Alert issued after Yamuna river crosses danger mark

New Delhi: The Yamuna on Tuesday crossed the danger mark and was flowing at 205.24 metres, the officials said, warning that the level of water could increase further. Approximately 11,19,430 cusecs of water was released from Haryana’s Hathnikund barrage till 2 pm, in the wake of heavy rains and flash floods in parts of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

An alert has been sounded by the authorities as the danger mark for Yamuna is 204.83 metres.

Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash reviewed flood situation in the Yamuna floodplains and ordered erection of tents and distribution of food among those affected, the officials said.

The discharge from Old Railway Bridge water level at 5 pm was recorded at 205.24 metres.

The states have witnessed downpours in the last few days due to which the water level in the rivers has increased. “The water level of river Yamuna at Delhi Railway Bridge at 11 a.m. was 205.12 meters,” a Flood and Control Department official said.

“The water is showing a rising trend and is expected to go up as Delhi is witnessing rains and more water is being released every hour from the barrage,” he added.

The water discharged from Hathnikund barrage, which provides drinking water to the national capital, normally takes 72 hours to reach the city, the officer added.

Delhi had witnessed the worst ever floods in 1978 when the river’s level touched a record 207.49 meters.