Yamuna below evacuation mark for first time in 4 days, more rain likely today

According to the Central Water Commission, while the river’s water level stood at 206.36 m on Saturday noon, by 2 pm, it had dropped to 206.3 m and to 206.19 m at 4 pm.

The river had touched 207.48 m on Thursday morning, its third-highest level since 1963. The highest level ever recorded was 208.66 m in July 2023, when more than 25,000 people were displaced, followed by 207.49 m in September 1978.

The warning mark for the city is 204.5 m, while the danger mark is 205.33 m, and evacuation of people starts at 206 m.

Meanwhile, water discharge to Yamuna by Haryana’s Hathnikund Barrage remained steady between 45,000 cusecs and 49,000 cusecs during the day. At Wazirabad Barrage, the discharge reduced from 1.09 lakh cusecs at noon to just under a lakh by evening, while Okhla Barrage discharge saw a drop from over 2 lakh cusecs to 1.92 lakh cusecs. Water released from the barrages typically takes 48 to 50 hours to reach Delhi.

Even as the water receded, large parts of Yamuna floodplains remained submerged.

“The situation is better but located in the low-lying areas, our house is still half under the water. Moreover, there is no electricity and clean drinking water… we can see insects everywhere… and there is a risk of snakes coming out as well,” said Ruby, a resident of Yamuna Bazaar, who has shifted with her husband and two daughters to a makeshift shelter on the roadside.

In Mayur Vihar, Shailender, who has taken shelter in a relief camp, said the water has reduced by nearly 10 to 12 feet since Friday. “It’s much better than yesterday, the level has gone down a lot. Volunteers are bringing us food and also trying to keep the place clean… but we don’t know when our homes will be livable again.”

At Badarpur Khadar, a civil defence volunteer pointed to the difficulties in reaching the affected who are not in relief camps.

“There is no way to take food across by vehicles, so we are transporting the same via boats. We have asked senior officials to look for some other way to ensure food and supplies reach those stranded,” he said.

According to a civil defence volunteer, the number of relief camps has gone up, including at the Old Railway Bridge, where food announcements for distribution were made on loudspeakers in the afternoon.

Delhi on Saturday recorded a maximum temperature of 34.1 degrees Celsius, 0.9 degrees below the season’s average. The minimum temperature was recorded at 25 degrees Celsius, 0.6 degrees below the season’s average.

The air quality was recorded in the ‘satisfactory’ category at 6 pm, with an Air Quality Index reading of 74, Central Pollution Control Board data showed.