Raging Yamuna River Flowing At Record Level; Spills Onto Streets In Delhi

The Central Water Commission had estimated that the water level of the Yamuna River could reach an unprecedented 207.99 meters on Wednesday night. However, surpassing this estimate, the water level breached the mark, reaching 208.05 meters, resulting in an 'extreme situation' for Delhi as floodwater entered the city on Wednesday evening.

According to the latest forecast from the Central Water Commission, the water level of the Yamuna River may reach 208.75 meters between 3-5 pm on Thursday. As of 7 am, the river was flowing at 208.46 meters.

In response to the situation, Delhi's Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, has appealed to the central government to intervene and ensure a reduction in the water released from Haryana's Hathnikund barrage.

What led to the Delhi flood?

The primary cause of the Yamuna River flooding parts of Delhi has been attributed to intense rainfall occurring within a short duration. Officials from the Central Water Commission have stated that the water released from the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana reached Delhi much faster than on previous occasions, possibly due to encroachment and siltation.

Experts have pointed out that the restricted space for the water to pass through may have increased its speed. They believe that if the same amount of rainfall had been spread out over a few days, it would not have resulted in such an extreme situation.

List of Affected Areas:

The following areas have been affected by the flooding: Boat Club, Monastery Market, Neeli Chhatri Temple, Yamuna Bazar, Neem Karoli gaushala, Vishwakarma colony, and the stretch between Majnu ka Tila and Wazirabad. Additionally, parts of Mayur Vihar, Laxmi Nagar, Sarai Kale Khan, Badarpur, Jamia Nagar, and Shaheen Bagh are at risk of further flooding if the water level continues to rise.