The Delhi government is on high alert owing to the Hathnikund Barrage’s release of more over 2 lakh cusecs of water into the Yamuna, according to Revenue Minister Atishi on Saturday.
If the river’s level rises to 206.7 meters, some of the Yamuna Khadar (floodplains) may be submerged, but the government is prepared to evacuate, she added in a statement.
Data from the Central Water Commission (CWC) show that between 9 am and 4 pm, the flow rate at the Hathnikund Barrage, which is situated near Yamunanagar, fluctuated between 2 lakh and 2.5 lakh cusecs.
Heavy to very heavy rain has been forecast by the India Meteorological Department for portions of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand until July 25.
Atishi said that regular’munadi’ (announcements) are made to inhabitants of sensitive locations in order to alert them to the possibility of floods. There have been inspections of the relief camps and preparations for people to remain there.
According to the minister, the Delhi government is on high alert as a result of the Hathnikund Barrage dumping more than 2 lakh cubic seconds of water into the Yamuna river.
“The situation has sparked concern, prompting the government to take proactive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents,” she said.
Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister, has been carefully following the events and directing the response activities, according to Atishi.
She said that the Department of Revenue has taken many actions to successfully address the issue.
We’ve made enough preparations, she added, “whether it’s the Central district, Eastern district, or areas like Yamuna Bazar and Yamuna Khadar, to handle any challenges that may arise.”
The Delhi administration makes a plea to the populace to exercise caution and assist the authorities at this crucial moment. The minister promised that locals would get frequent updates and warnings regarding the situation’s development.
For more than a week, floods and waterlogging have affected many areas of Delhi. On July 8 and 9, a deluge initially caused severe waterlogging, with the city getting 125% of its monthly rainfall allowance in only two days.
Consequently, the Yamuna river swelled to a record 208.66 meters on July 13 as a result of intense rainfall in the river’s higher catchment districts, which included Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana.