Govt sounds alert as Yamuna level touches danger mark

The water level of the river at Old Delhi railway bridge reached 204.10 metres at 7 pm on July 27, above warning level. The East Delhi district administration said the river “has a rising trend”. Kejriwal directed that the control room emergency number, 1077, be advertised, while a government spokesperson said “the process of evacuation in vulnerable areas has already started and they have started putting up tents to shift people.”

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The water level of the river at Old Delhi railway bridge reached 204.10 metres at 7 pm on July 27, above warning level. (Express Photo/Praveen Khanna)

The CM also issued directions that supplies for food, drinking water and emergency medical teams be set up. “DUSIB has been asked to place their mobile toilet vans around tents at the earliest,” said an official.

The Yamuna passes through the districts of north, northeast, central, east, southeast and Shahdara. Authorities started evacuation on Saturday and tents have already been pitched at a few locations. As per officials, close to 20,000-25,000 people will be evacuated within a couple of days. “Close to 120 people have been shifted to 15 tents in the district. The processes of setting up tents at other places is going on,” said east district DM, K Mahesh.

The education department and different MCDs have also been asked to provide space for people, while power companies have been asked to arrange power in these tents.

The alert was sounded by the government on Friday (Express Photo/Praveen Khanna)

The Army was requested to be on standby for any emergency, added the official. “All the agencies with motorboats were asked to keep them ready for evacuation. The Army has been asked to check all motorboats for operations, if required. Portable generators are also being prepared for night evacuation, if required,” said the official.

The alert was sounded by the government on Friday. “The CWC, Upper Yamuna Division, New Delhi has issued flood forecast for the Delhi Railway Bridge (North Delhi Dt NCT, Delhi). The water level of river Yamuna at Delhi Railway Bridge was 205 metres at 9 am on July 28 (warning level 204.00 m),” an advisory said.

This water likely to reach Del by tomo eve. Wherever administration evacuating people, they r requested to cooperate. All depts put on high alert. For any flood related emergency, control room no is 1077. https://t.co/JI2ADxACMW

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 28, 2018

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, “A low pressure area around western UP and adjoining areas will bring widespread rainfall over UP, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and northwest Madhya Pradesh during the next two days.”