FLOODED YAMUNA BANK
NEW DELHI: The water level of the Yamuna river, which has already crossed the danger mark in the capital, is constantly rising as it reached 206.05 m in the evening on Tuesday.
Rail traffic was again suspended on the old Yamuna rail bridge on Tuesday as a precaution after the river crossed the danger mark. The closure took place at 10.05 am after the water level reached 206.03 m early morning, a Northern Railway official said.
Railway spokesperson Nitin Chowdhury said two passenger trains were cancelled, 17 Express trains diverted and 19 trains terminated ahead of their destination.
On Sunday night too, the railways decided to close the old Yamuna bridge. But it was opened for operation on Monday morning.
“More and more people are being shifted to safer places as the water level is rising and the situation is severe. Some people are not willing to shift, but we are trying to convince them,” a Flood Control Department official said. By Tuesday evening, the water level is expected to fall, according to the Central Water Commission. Haryana Flood Control Department discharged 19,662 cusec water from Hathani Kund Barrage at 6 PM on Tuesday.
The water level of the Yamuna river is constantly rising as it reached 206.05 m in the evening on Tuesday.
By evening, the water level is expected to fall, according to the flood forecast of the Central Water Commission. “The flow of the river is steady, but more rainfall may impact this flow. We are keeping a close watch,” the official said.
According to Delhi government's estimates, around 10,000 people have been evacuated so far and at least 1,149 tents have been set up as the river's water level touched 205.8m at around 9 pm on Monday. Around 8,600 people are living in tents set up by the government. Delhi witnessed its worst-ever flood in 1978 when the river's level touched a record 207.49 m. “The government has established a flood control room in the office of the district magistrate, District (East) at L M Bund, Geeta Colony. A 24x7 emergency operation centre has also been set up,” a senior official said.