Yamuna Water Level: On Saturday, the surging Yamuna began to show indications of calm as the river’s flow near the Old Railway Bridge steadily decreased. Despite the water level falling, the Yamuna river’s water level was measured at 207.62 metres, which is still above the danger level. The Yamuna’s water level was 207.53 metres at nine in the morning. The fact that the river’s water level was below the 1978 record of 207.48 metres at 10 am was a huge comfort.
The Aftermath of Yamuna River’s Record-Breaking Surge
However, when the Yamuna reached an all-time high earlier this week, a number of crucial areas in Delhi, including the Income Tax Office (ITO), the Shanti Van neighbourhood, and other crucial areas, were still under water as of Wednesday morning. In the nation’s capital, the Arterial road at ITO was flooded. Water levels in the Yamuna in Delhi dropped to 207.62 metres at 7 am on Saturday after breaking the 45-year-old record three days earlier. At 11 p.m. on Friday, the water level of the Yamuna was measured at 207.98 metres. The Okhla water treatment plant, which had been closed on Thursday, was reopened after the Yamuna’s water level dropped. Due to waterlogging in Delhi, the Yamuna river continued to flood, affecting adjacent areas and important routes.
Floods Force Closure of Schools, Universities, and Crematoriums
The Delhi administration closed schools, universities, crematoriums, as well as water treatment facilities, in response to the flooding in the nation’s capital. Crematoriums close to the Yamuna River have been flooded as a result of the flood-like conditions in Delhi. Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, restarted the Okhla water treatment plant and stated that if the Yamuna river’s water levels drop below 207.7 metres by Saturday am, he would also restart the two other water treatment facilities at Wazirabad and Chandrawal. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a “yellow” notice for Saturday because it expected moderate rain and thundershowers that day, suggesting that the national capital’s crisis is still far from finished. For the upcoming few days in Delhi, the regional metrological centre predicts a mainly cloudy sky with light to moderate rainfall.
Damaged Regulator Triggers Yamuna River’s Backflow
A Delhi Irrigation and Flood Control Department regulator was damaged on Friday, which caused the Yamuna to flow back towards the city, adding to the cause for concern. Sandbags, braces and stones were being used to fix the irrigation and flood control department’s regulator that is located close to the Indraprastha bus stop and the WHO Building. The breakdown of a drain regulator’s embankment caused waterlogging in various areas of Delhi, including the ITO, with floodwater coming dangerously close to the Supreme Court building. In addition, water got into the Mahatma Gandhi memorial at Rajghat because of backflow from a nearby drain. After the rupture, water began to enter the city through the drain, flooding the Ring Road, the Indraprastha Metro Station, the IP Depot, the ITO, and Vikas Marg in central Delhi before reaching the entrance of the Supreme Court. Kejriwal had earlier in the day, while visiting the site, stated that the Indraprastha water regulator was burst due to a high river current and is likely to be fixed within three to four hours. The repairs continued through Friday night. The Delhi government requested help from the Indian Army as the Yamuna River was flowing above the danger level and low-lying neighbourhoods were submerged. A team of engineers assessed the situation and built a temporary bund to channel the water back to Yamuna near the WHO headquarters while another team of engineers was sent to the ITO bridge barrage to unlock blocked sluice gates.
Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER
