Delhi flood: Water enters ITO, Supreme Court; CM Kejriwal seeks NDRF help

“This breach is causing flooding of ITO and surroundings. Engineers have been working whole night. I have directed the Chief Secretary to seek help from the Army/NDRF but this should be fixed urgently,” Kejriwal tweeted.

Water Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj said that the work to stop the regulator has been going on all night. “The CM himself is reaching at 11 am to encourage the officers and labourers present there,” the minister said.

Traffic moves through a flooded road, after a rise in the waters of river Yamuna due to heavy monsoon rains, in New Delhi, India, July 14, 2023. (Reuters Photo)

He said the CM has been monitoring the situation on the ground personally the whole night.

“The whole night, our teams worked to fix the damage at the regulator of drain no 12 near WHO building. Still, the water of Yamuna is entering the city through this breach. The Govt has directed the Chief Secretary to take it up on highest priority,” Bharadwaj tweeted.

People cross a flooded road, after a rise in the waters of river Yamuna due to heavy monsoon rains, in New Delhi, India, July 14, 2023. (Reuters Photo)

Revenue Minister Atishi also issued directions to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar and asked him to personally monitor the situation on the ground and provide hourly updates to the CM, the Irrigation and Flood Control minister and herself.

Meanwhile, the traffic police also advised the public to avoid the ITO stretch. “The traffic movement is affected on Vikas Marg towards ITO due to overflow of flood water. Commuters are advised to avoid this stretch and take the route of NH-24 via Akshardham -Nizamuddin-ITO.”

New Delhi: Vehicles pass through a waterlogged road near ITO, in New Delhi, Friday, July 14, 2023. The Yamuna river swelled up in Delhi following heavy monsoon rains, inundating nearby streets and public and private infrastructure, and causing immense hardships to people living in close proximity to the river.(PTI Photo)

Traffic was also restricted from Shanti Van towards Geeta Colony Flyover due to flooding, rendering several kilometres of the arterial Ring Road — from Shanti Van to ISBT Kashmere Gate — out of bounds.