Delhi: Kejriwal holds emergency meeting as Yamuna level rises

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held an emergency meeting on Saturday with top officials of his government, including Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash, to take stock of the situation after the Yamuna crossed the danger mark here.

The water level reached 205.30 metres at 7 pm on Saturday, prompting authorities here to evacuate people from low-lying areas, officials said.

Kejriwal said all departments have been put on high alert, reports PTI.

"Haryana has released 5 lakh cusec water. Called an emergency meeting to discuss the situation. This water likely to reach Del by tomo eve. Wherever administration evacuating people, they r requested to cooperate. All depts put on high alert. For any flood related emergency, control room no is 1077 (sic)," he tweeted.

The Yamuna water level at the Hathinikund barrage has crossed the danger mark of 90,000 cusec and till 7 pm, 5,63,186 cusec of water was released.

The water level of the Yamuna river at the Old Delhi Railway Bridge rose to 205.30 metres by 7 pm and is expected to rise even further, an official said.

"The water level of river Yamuna at Delhi Old Rly Bridge reached at 204.92 metres at 7 am on July 28 (above the warning level) and having rising trend," a statement issued in the morning had said.

An alert was sounded on Friday by the Delhi government after the water level of the Yamuna crossed the danger mark, an official said.

A low pressure persists over western Uttar Pradesh and its neighbouring areas.

With heavy rains continuing in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, authorities in Haryana's Hathnikund barrage on Saturday released excess water into the Yamuna river, posing a flood threat to New Delhi.