Yamuna crosses danger mark… Chief Secy reviews flood scene
NEW DELHI: The Yamuna river is flowing above the danger level following the release of water from Haryana's Hathnikund barrage in the wake of heavy rains and flash floods in parts of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash reviewed flood situation in the Yamuna floodplains directed District Magistrates to set up tents and distribute food among those affected.
"At 3 pm water discharged from Hathani Kund Barrage was 58,868 cusecs which and the water level at Old Delhi bridge was recorded 205.22 meters," said an official. The warning level mark of the Yamuna is 204 metres and the danger level mark is 204.83 metres.
Prakash has called an emergency meeting on Tuesday afternoon to decide the steps to deal with exigencies. "The water level of river Yamuna at Delhi Railway Bridge at 11 am was 205.12 meters," said an official.
The official added that the Yamuna was already flooded in its upper reaches. To make matters worse Haryana opened the gates of its Hathnikund barrage which has further increased the flow of the river
."The water is showing a rising trend and is expected to go up as Delhi is witnessing rains and more water is being released every hour from the barrage," he added. The water discharged from Hathnikund barrage, which provides drinking water to the national capital, normally takes 72 hours to reach the city, he said.
Delhi had witnessed the worst ever floods in 1978 when the river's level touched a record 207.49 meters. In July end the Yamuna also crossed the danger mark when Delhi CM directed all the departments to work on evacuation.
The Chief Minister said that the supply of power, food and drinking water must be ensured to the people. Emergency medical teams would also be on duty for the people being shifted for any kind of medical emergencies, the statement said.
The DUSIB has been asked to activate and place their mobile toilet vans around the tents being put up at the earliest. Kejriwal asked the departments concerned to reach out to the people in these areas and inform them about the evacuation and its reasons aggressively.
