Delhi In Uncharted Waters As Yamuna Continues Flow Above Danger Mark, Breaches 208 Metre Mark

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said that all schools in flood-affected areas of the national capital will remain closed for the day as the water level in River Yamuna continues to rise to record heights.

The water level in River Yamuna is 208.48 metres, its highest recorded till date and nearly three metres above the danger mark of 205.33 metres.

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Saving lives most important: Kejriwal

With River Yamuna continuing to rise, flood waters have inundated many low-lying areas and have also entered some roads.

CM Kejriwal appealed to people not to use roads around the river as they have been inundated.

"The water level of Yamuna is rising continuously. Now the level has reached 208.46m. Due to the rising water level, the water of Yamuna has come on the roads around it. You are requested not to go on these routes," he said in a tweet.

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"The people living there are requested to cooperate with the administration. Saving lives of people is most important. This is an appeal to all the people of Delhi to cooperate with each other in every possible way in this emergency situation," he added.

Traffic advisory for Delhi

The Delhi Traffic Police on Thursday issued an advisory on the restrictions and regulation of vehicular movement in place owing to the rising water level of the Yamuna River.

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According to the advisory, traffic movement has been impaired on Mahatma Gandhi Marg between IP flyover and Chandgi Ram Akhara, Mahatma Gandhi Marg between Kalighat Mandir and Delhi Secretariat, and Outer Ring Road between Wazirabad Bridge and Chandgi Ram Akhara.

The commuters are advised to avoid the roads and plan their journey accordingly, it said.

Non-destined commercial vehicles will not be allowed to enter Delhi and will be diverted to Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressway. The commercial vehicles will be diverted from Mukarba Chowk. No commercial vehicles will be allowed between Mukarba Chowk and Wazirabad Bridge, the advisory stated.

The commercial vehicles will also be diverted from Sarai Kale Khan. No such vehicles will be allowed between Sarai Kale Khan and IP flyover. They will be diverted from Ghazipur border as well as from Akshardham towards DND. No such vehicles will be allowed between Akshardham and Sarai Kale Khan, it added.

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Yamuna flowing above danger mark since Sunday

The water level at the Old Railway Bridge crossed the 208-metre mark Wednesday night and rose to 208.48 metres by 8 am on Thursday. It is expected to rise further, according to the Central Water Commission, which has termed it an "extreme situation".

The river exceeded the evacuation mark of 206 metres Monday night, prompting the relocation of people residing in flood-prone areas to safer locations and the closure of the Old Railway Bridge for road and rail traffic. The water level breached the previous all-time record of 207.49 metres by 1 pm on Wednesday and the 208-metre mark by 10 pm.

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Why is Yamuna flooded?

The rise in the water levels in River Yamuna is being blamed on the release of water from Hathnikund in Haryana.

There are two major barrages on the Yamuna -- Dakpathar in Dehradun and Hathnikund in Yamunanagar, upstream of Delhi. There are no dams on the river, and most of the monsoon flow remains unutilised, resulting in floods during the season.

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