Delhi government issues first flood warning as Haryana releases water

Written By dna Correspondent | Updated: Jul 28, 2018, 06:05 AM IST

The Yamuna river has crossed the danger level

Around 20,000 families in low-lying areas close to the river bank are likely to get affected if the water crosses the danger mark.

The Delhi government has issued this year's first flood warning after Haryana released around 1.3 lakh cusec water from its Hathni Kund Barrage into the Yamuna river on Thursday morning. Around 20,000 families in low-lying areas close to the river bank are likely to get affected if the water crosses the danger mark.

Most families are residing either in slums or in unauthorised colonies built on the floodplain. Meanwhile, rain pounded Delhi and its national capital region for the second consecutive day on Friday causing waterlogging and traffic snarls.

Overnight rain, which continued till the morning in many parts of the city, led to waterlogged roads. The Delhi traffic police said waterlogging was reported at Ali Gaon traffic signal, Mehrauli-Mahipalpur route to the Delhi Airport, near Zakir Hussain College, Ramlila Maidan, and civic centre in central Delhi.

Heavy traffic congestion was also reported on the carriageway of RTR Marg from Vasant Kunj towards IGI airport. Traffic slowed down at Okhla Mandi, Badarpur railway underpass, under IP flyover, under Modi Mill flyover, Jawaharlal Nehru Road and other areas.

In Ghaziabad, many schools remained closed under the directions of the district magistrate on account of heavy rains and adverse weather conditions. As pre-emptive measures, the government has kept rescue boats on standby. Directions have been issued to officials from the irrigation and flood control department to keep a close eye on low-lying areas.

The main city will not be affected by the released water as ten embankments along Yamuna will act as buffer, preventing it from flooding the city. However, people staying in the low-lying areas of North Delhi — like Sonia Vihar, Sadatpur, Sherpur — are at risk of floods if the water level rises. In such eventuality, families will be shifted to higher grounds, an government official said.

According to data, the 1.36 lakh cusecs water released by Haryana will take around 48 hours to reach the national capital. Yamuna is likely to swell following incessant rain in Delhi in the past two days and Haryana opening its barrages due to rains in the hills. Yamuna's water level has already touched 203.83 metres while the warning mark is 204 metres.

  • The Delhi government warns about floods in a three-pronged warning system whenever the neighbouring state opens the Hathni Kund barrage. The first warning is issued when over one lakh cusecs is released, over three lakh cusecs warrants a second warning. The third and final caution comes when more than five lakh cusecs water is released.

Areas in North Delhi vulnerable to floods: An estimated 20,000 families will be hit in case of flooding

  • Usmanpur
  • Sabhapur Chauhan
  • Sonia VIhar
  • Sadatpur
  • Sherpur