Delhi News Highlights: Yamuna level surpasses 207 metres, IMD issues yellow and orange alert

A threat of vector-borne diseases hovers above the people sheltered in relief camps here, even as water from the Yamuna River inundated the posh Civil Lines area on Thursday. On the rise for days, the Yamuna on Thursday showed signs of receding. The water level in the river at Old Railway Bridge reached 207.48 metres, the highest this season, and after remaining static for some time, and has slowly started receding. It reached a level of 207.42 metres by 7 pm. A flood forecast said that the water level will fall to 207.30 metres by 8 am on Friday. In Mayur Vihar Phase I and Yamuna Bazar, floodwater entered relief tents, compounding the misery of evacuees already displaced from submerged homes.

In northeast Delhi, a few people, pets, and a cow were found stranded at Third Pusta, Usmanpur. - PTI

As the Yamuna river swelled after the release of water from Haryana's Hathni Kund barrage, the Gautam Buddh Nagar administration has rescued more than 3,800 people and 1,471 cattle from flood-affected villages in Jewar and Sadar tehsils, officials said on Thursday. Authorities have set up relief camps, deployed disaster response teams, and launched community kitchens to provide food and medical care to those displaced. Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), a Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) unit, fire department personnel, and boats have also been pressed into service - PTI

Delhi's power discoms are on high alert and working round-the-clock to maintain power supply in the low-lying areas, officials said on Thursday. Restoration is being prioritised strictly based on safety conditions and official clearance, while the discoms continue to work closely with civic authorities. - PTI

Water from the Yamuna gushed into the narrow alleys of Majnu ka Tila this week, swallowing homes and shops and leaving behind damp wood, broken machines and stagnant drains. In this riverside Tibetan Colony, where cafes bustle with students, tattoo parlours light up neon signs and home spas run out of rented rooms, the flooding has turned everyday work into a struggle for survival. The damage has cut through every kind of business, from restaurants whose owners now sleep in their offices, to tattoo parlours with ruined machines, salons and home spas left without working equipment, and garment shops that remain locked as water stagnates outside. - PTI

Rain lashed parts of the national capital on Thursday, with more showers expected as yellow and orange alerts remain in effect. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has advised people to stay cautious as light to moderate rain with thunderstorms is forecasted in the east, south, central, New Delhi, north, southwest, and west Delhi. - PTI

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday appealed to all party workers to help authorities in carrying out relief and rescue operations in the flooded regions of Delhi. "Due to the rising water level of the Yamuna in Delhi, several low-lying areas have been flooded. I appeal to all AAP workers to join hands with the administration in relief and rescue operations and ensure that help reaches every person in need," the former Delhi Chief Minister said in a post on X.

The water level in the Yamuna at Delhi's Old Railway Bridge remained steady at 207.46 metres between 11 am and 12 noon on Thursday.

Using boats in some areas and wading through knee-deep water in others, NDRF personnel rescued people stranded in flooded regions, including some in relief camps that were inundated due to the rising Yamuna levels. At some places in Yamuna Bazar and Mayur Vihar Phase I, it was a double whammy for people. They had to leave their homes due to flooding and then shift to shelters at government schools after the tents were also inundated. - PTI

SpiceJet airline has issued a travel advisory amid bad weather in Delhi, urging passengers to keep a check on their flight status.

"Due to bad weather in Delhi (DEL), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may be affected. Passengers are requested to keep a check on their flight status," the airline wrote in a post of X.

NDRF deployed after Madanpur Khadar Vishwakarma Colony of South East Delhi submerged as the level of the river Yamuna continues to rise following heavy rainfall.

The water level in the Yamuna at Delhi's Old Railway Bridge remained steady at 207.46 metres between 11 am and 12 noon on Thursday, officials said.

They added that the level is expected to begin receding gradually, though floodwaters continue to inundate nearby areas and relief camps.

At 11 am, the water level stood at 207.46 metres. According to official data, it remained steady at 207.48 metres between 6 am and 7 am.

While the level at 5 am was 207.47 metres, it rose slightly to 207.48 metres at 6 am. Officials said the level remained static at 207.47 metres between 2 am and 5 am.

(PTI)

Yamuna floodwater caused massive traffic jams in several key stretches of the national capital on Thursday, bringing vehicular movement to a crawl at multiple points, including Kashmere Gate, Ring Road, Outer Ring Road and the Kalindi Kunj area.

The sudden inundation disrupted morning rush-hour traffic, leaving commuters stuck for long hours.

Several people took to social media and reported bumper-to-bumper traffic, saying that even short distances like two kilometres were taking hours to cover. Many said they had to leave their vehicles at home and shift to Delhi Metro to reach offices on time.

Traffic police said heavy congestion was reported along stretches near the Yamuna river, with several points submerged.

"Traffic jams were witnessed at Kashmere Gate, along the Ring Road and Outer Ring Road, and around Kalindi Kunj where floodwater accumulated on carriageways. Diversions had to be made to regulate movement," an official said.

To manage the situation, the Delhi Traffic Police issued an advisory for commuters, specifically urging those travelling from Chandgi Ram Akhara towards Rajghat to use alternate routes.

According to the advisory, vehicles have been asked to move through Signature Bridge, then take Pusta Road and Raja Ram Kohli Marg before proceeding towards Rajghat and other destinations. "This arrangement has been made to ensure smoother vehicular movement and to avoid congestion," a senior traffic police officer said.

(PTI)

Road at Neeli Chatri Temple near the old iron bridge closed as the Yamuna River continues to flow above the danger mark.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) released a statement saying that the approach road leading to the Yamuna Bank Metro Station is currently inaccessible due to a surge in the water levels of the Yamuna River. It further urged commuters to plan their journeys accordingly and consider alternate routes. “Due to the escalating water levels of the Yamuna River, the approach road leading to Yamuna Bank Metro Station is currently inaccessible. The station is operational and interchange facility is available,” DMRC said in a statement.

Authorities in Delhi have closed all 13 regulator drains connected to the Yamuna to prevent river backflow into low-lying areas as water levels near a critical mark. Sandbags have been placed at stormwater drain mouths from Vasudev Ghat to Yamuna Bank. Vulnerable areas include ITO, Kashmere Gate, Rajghat, Qudsia Ghat, and parts of the Ring Road. The Public Works Department has deployed 32 boats, 89 mobile pumps, and 18 permanent pumping stations. However, with the drains shut, dewatering rainwater has slowed, raising challenges during rainfall. The move comes after severe flooding in 2023 when Yamuna levels rose to record highs.

A section of the Mungeshpur drain in Bahadurgarh (Haryana) breached on Tuesday, flooding parts of Delhi’s border areas, including Jharoda and nearby unauthorised colonies. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta spoke with Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini to seek urgent repairs. Around 2,000 residents were evacuated to temporary shelters at Baba Haridas Temple and an MCD school. Repair efforts were carried out jointly by officials from both states, assisted by NDRF teams, and overseen by South West Delhi DM Mekala Chaitanya Prasad. West Delhi MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat also visited the affected areas.

Cremations halted at Nigambodh Ghat as Yamuna floodwater enters premises Cremations at Nigambodh Ghat, Delhi’s largest cremation ground, have been suspended after Yamuna floodwater entered the premises, officials said on Wednesday.

Heavy rainfall and waterlogging cause severe traffic jams from ITO to Kashmere Gate on Wednesday evening.

Heavy rain brings life to a standstill in the national capital on Wednesday. Flooding on a stretch near IGI Airport has caused massive traffic snarls, with visuals showing long queues of stranded vehicles.

As heavy showers continue to drench Noida and Ghaziabad, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast intense rainfall in Faridabad, Delhi, and Gurugram on Wednesday. A red alert has been issued for Northeast, East, Central, and South Delhi, while the remaining areas are under an orange alert.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a weather advisory for the national capital, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy rain across various parts of Delhi on Wednesday (Sep 3).

"Thunderstorm/ Lightning with Heavy Rain very likely over parts of South East Delhi, East Delhi, Shahadra, Central Delhi, North East Delhi, South Delhi, New Delhi, South West Delhi, West Delhi, North West Delhi, North Delhi," IMD said.

"Thunderstorm/ Lightning with Moderate Rain very likely over parts of South East Delhi, Shahadra, South Delhi, New Delhi, South West Delhi, West Delhi, North West Delhi, North Delhi," it added.

Over 7,500 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas as the Yamuna level rose to 207 metres at the Old Railway Bridge (ORB) on Wednesday at 1 pm, said the officials.

"Across five districts, more than 7,500 people have been evacuated from five districts – east, north, southeast, northeast, and central. They have been shifted to relief camps at 25 locations, including tents, schools, etc.," an official said.

The ones evacuated have been moved to 25 different locations where relief camps have been set up.

"The reason for the rising water level is mostly due to the high volumes of water released from the Wazirabad and Hathnikund barrages every hour. The forecast indicates a further increase in the water level," an official from the Central Flood Control Room added.

Delhi's Vasudev Ghat submerged as the Yamuna River overflows, causing widespread flooding.

As intense spells continue over Noida, Ghaziabad, the IMD has said that heavy showers are expected in Faridabad, Delhi and Gurugram. The IMD has issued a red alert in Northeast Delhi, East Delhi, Central Delhi and South Delhi. The rest of the area is under an orange alert.

The water level of the Yamuna River in Delhi crossed the danger level mark on Wednesday morning. The warning mark for the city is 204.5 metres, while the danger mark is 205.33 metres. Evacuation of people starts at 206 metres. The water level is rising due to continuous heavy rainfall in Delhi for the past few days.

As a preventive measure amid the anticipation of the possible flood situation, people residing in the low-lying areas nearby have been shifted to safer locations.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the forecast for today says, "Generally cloudy sky with moderate rain".

"Thunderstorm with rain" for tomorrow, "Generally cloudy sky with moderate rain" for September 5, "Thunderstorm with rain" for September 6, and "Generally cloudy sky" for September 7 and 8.

(PTI)