Yamuna crosses danger mark in Delhi, scores evacuated

New Delhi, Sep 22 (UNI) As the water level in river Yamuna today crossed the danger mark in Delhi, scores of people living in low lying areas were evacuated to safer places.

The water level in the river touched 205.40 metres, slightly above the danger mark of 204.83 metres, as Haryana released nearly four lakh cusecs of water into the river.

It is expected to go upto 205.8 metres by tomorrow evening, flood control department sources said.

They said people living close to the river bed like Chilla village, Batla house, Garhi mandu, Nigambodh ghat and Usmanpur have been asked to shift to safer places as a precautionary measure.

Though the flood department maintained that the situation was ''not alarming'', they have put all nodal departments like the police, Delhi Jal Board, MCD, PWD, and the irrigation departments on alert.

All SDMs and officials of the irrigation and flood control department were keeping a close watch on the situation. All the officials have been alerted and logistics arranged to meet any eventualities.

The administration had earlier opened all the gates of the Wazirabad bridge so as to allow the water coming from Tazewala barrage to move ahead. Further, the Uttar Pradesh Government has also been requested that it keep open all its barrages located on the border to allow the water to pass.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Jal Board said due to flooding of Yamuna, there was excess quantities of floating materials, wild grass, shrubs and other aquatic plants in the river at Wazirabad, due to which there were frequent chokages of raw water intake bar screens at the plant.

This has affected the production of potable water at Wazirabad WTP and Chandrawal Water Works. Water supply is likely to be affected in the command areas of these plants. This situation is likely to continue for the next two days, a Jal Board spokesman said.

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