Harshita Mathur, Pune
On Monday, 10 July, the Yamuna River in Delhi surpassed the warning mark of 204.5 meters due to heavy rainfall in the region and Haryana’s release of additional water from the Hathnikund barrage. Addressing this issue chief minister Arvind Kejriwal stated in a press conference that a flood-like situation as of now is unlikely but the government has taken measures and is prepared to deal with any problems that may arise due to the same.
To tackle the situation and to prepare the citizens in advance, the government on Sunday issued a flood warning and started spreading awareness among the people living in close proximity to the river banks. The chief minister also stated that evacuation plans for people in low-lying areas will be executed if and when the water of the river breached the 206-meter mark.
Delhi authorities have been alerted and asked to stay attentive so that immediate action can be taken if any situation for the same arises. The deployment of response teams and boats is also done to ensure that there is no delay in action. The Delhi government along with these measures has also set up a central along with 16 control rooms to closely monitor the flood-prone areas and rising water levels of the Yamuna.
As per the latest update from the irrigation and flood control department, there has been a gradual increase in the flow rate at the Hathnikund barrage. At 5 am on Monday, the flow rate reached 3,05,768 cusecs before subsequently dropping to 1,90,837 cusecs at 1 am. Comparatively, the normal flow rate at the barrage stands at 352 cusecs. The intensified rainfall in the catchment areas has led to this surge in discharge. Inhabiting the low-lying areas near the river is an estimated population of approximately 37,000 who are reportedly at risk as these areas are prone to flooding.
Recent data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) revealed that the national capital experienced torrential rains with a record-breaking 153 mm of rainfall within 24 hours ending at 8:30 am on Sunday. This remarkable figure marks the highest recorded rainfall in a single day during July since 1982, as reported by the IMD. Due to the heavy rains, the Delhi government declared schools to be closed on Monday and canceled the government official’s leave on Sunday as they were asked to be present on the field.