Flood scare in Delhi as Yamuna water level crosses danger mark; evacuation begins

The Yamuna water level crossed the danger mark in Delhi on Saturday, prompting authorities to issue an advisory to concerned officials and begin the evacuation of hundreds of people living on the river bed and law lying area.

Due to the incessant rains in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the Yamuna water level at the Haryana’s Hathinikund barrage crossed the danger mark of 90,000 cusecs and reached 2.11 lakh cusecs by 9 am on Saturday.

"Over 10,000 persons have been affected. People earlier living on the river bed and low-lying areas are being shifted out," IANS quoted Preet Vihar Nodal officer Arun Gupta as saying.

The water level of the Yamuna at Delhi railway bridge is likely to rise further by Saturday night as more water was being released by Haryana, cautioned the East Delhi district administration.

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“The water level of river Yamuna at Delhi Old Rly Bridge reached at 204.92 metres at 7 AM on July 28 (above the warning level) and having rising trend,” the administration said in a statement.

On Friday, the authorities of the national capital had sounded a flood alert after the water level of the Yamuna river crossed the danger mark.

“All the executive engineers/sector officers are directed to keep in close contact with the control room in relation to the discharge, water level at the Old Railway Bridge and the advisory or forecast from the Central Water Commission/MET, and requested to take appropriate measures/steps accordingly to avoid flood-like situation,” it said.

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