Yamuna Danger Mark Crossed, Delhi Put on High Flood Alert

The Yamuna River in Delhi crossed the danger mark on Monday, according to news agency ANI. This comes after all eighteen gates of the Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana were opened for the first time this monsoon season, releasing massive volumes of water downstream.

Authorities confirmed that the continuous release of water from Hathnikund and Wazirabad barrages every hour has contributed to the rising water level in the capital.

Yamuna Level Expected to Cross 206 Metres

The Central Water Commission (CWC) had earlier issued an advisory on Sunday, warning that the Yamuna was likely to reach 206 metres by August 19, surpassing the danger mark of 205.33 metres.

"In view of the quantity of water released from Hathnikund Barrage on August 17 and the heavy rainfall in the Upper Yamuna area, the water level at Delhi Railway Bridge may cross 206.00 metres around 2 AM on August 19, 2025," the advisory stated, as quoted by PTI.

By 7 PM on Sunday, the river had already crossed the warning level of 204.50 metres, rising to 204.60 metres at the Old Railway Bridge in Delhi.

Evacuation Trigger at 206 Metres

The warning mark for Yamuna in Delhi is 204.50 metres, while the danger mark is 205.33 metres. Authorities begin evacuations once the level touches 206 metres, to protect residents in low-lying areas.

The Old Railway Bridge in Delhi continues to serve as a key monitoring point for tracking water levels and flood risks.

Highest Release of Water This Monsoon

Officials from the central flood control room reported that the Hathnikund Barrage is currently releasing around 1.27 lakh cusecs of water, the highest this season. Similarly, Wazirabad is releasing 45,620 cusecs every hour. The water released from these barrages takes 48-50 hours to reach Delhi, further escalating flood risks in the coming days.

On Friday, the water level had touched 204.65 metres at 1 PM, while by Saturday it had already risen to 205.11 metres, edging closer to the danger mark.

CWC Advisory

The Central Water Commission has asked all concerned departments to stay on high alert and take precautionary measures to handle any flood-like situation. Citizens have been advised to stay away from riverbanks and remain prepared for possible evacuations if levels cross the critical threshold.