India (Commonwealth Union)_ Delhi finds itself under severe flood alert once again, as the water level in the Yamuna river continues to surge, posing an imminent threat of flooding in the low-lying areas of the national capital. The escalating water levels are a consequence of the release of more than 2 lakh cusecs of water from the Hathinikund Barrage, triggered by heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. Further, officials are also concerned that another flood could affect Delhi’s water supply again, considering the previous one that flooded the major Wazirabad, Chandrawal and Okhla treatment facilities.
Despite hopes of returning to normalcy after the recent flooding, Delhiites were met with gloomy skies over the weekend, and excess water once again overflowed from Haryana’s Hathnikund Barrage, inundating the already swollen Yamuna river in Delhi. As such, on Sunday, the water level in the Yamuna River surpassed the critical mark of 206 meters, a point that activates evacuation orders. This compelled the authorities to renew their calls for residents within the danger zone to relocate to safer areas, in anticipation of the looming threat of rising floods and potential disruptions in the coming week.
Delhi Revenue Minister Atishi issued a warning to the public, cautioning that the Yamuna Khadar floodplains could be submerged if the water levels rose to 206.7 meters. The government cabinet minister, Saurabh Bharadwaj, confirmed that areas previously affected by flooding were closely monitored, and precautionary measures such as the construction of flood protection bunds were implemented to mitigate similar occurrences. With 60 teams actively surveilling vulnerable areas, residents in flood-prone zones have been evacuated and relocated to relief camps in preparation for the impending flood risk.
Northern India has been grappling with severe flooding and landslides over the past few weeks due to record-breaking monsoon rains. The region, including the mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh, witnessed extensive property damage, widespread disruption, and devastating floods. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted more heavy rains in the northern regions as the monsoon has already exceeded normal rainfall by about 2%. The situation in Himachal Pradesh was particularly dire, with numerous homes, vehicles, bridges, and buildings being swept away by floodwaters, resulting in significant casualties and displacements. Further, some schools were converted into relief camps to accommodate the flood victims. Hundreds of people, along with their livestock, found shelter under overhead road bridges in the eastern parts of the capital.
Last week, in New Delhi, residential areas near the Yamuna River experienced considerable flooding, leading to the evacuation of thousands from low-lying regions. The water level in the Yamuna River reached a 40-year record, forcing the displacement of nearly 30,000 people who sought shelter in relief camps and converted schools. Despite a slight decrease in rainfall, the river level rose due to high water discharge from the Hathni Kund barrage in neighboring Haryana state. The Army carried out rescue operations, saving 910 students and 50 others from the flooded Chitkara University near Rajpura, Punjab. Chandigarh in Punjab received an astounding 762 mm (30 inches) of rain in just 48 hours, highlighting the intensity of the recent downpour.
The India Meteorological Department forecast a gradual escalation in rainfall intensity over Delhi-NCR starting Monday. Accordingly, areas surrounding Delhi are also facing challenging circumstances, with a flood warning issued for low-lying regions along the Hindon, a tributary of the Yamuna. In Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Budh Nagar, around 200 residents from five villages have been evacuated to shelters. In Ghaziabad, police personnel have rescued approximately 7,000 individuals from flood-affected areas, while Noida experienced water entering homes due to rising Hindon water levels on Saturday. The situation remains critical, and authorities are working diligently to manage the aftermath of the heavy monsoon rains and potential flooding threats across the affected regions.
