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New Delhi: Due to heavy rains in parts of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and release of water from Hathinikund barrage into Yamuna, the water level of Yamuna river in the national capital rise again. This may affect the relief and rehabilitation work in the flood-affected low-lying areas. Officials gave this information.
The water level of the Yamuna river in Delhi fell below the danger mark on Saturday morning, which remained around the danger mark of 205.33 meters for the last few days. According to the data of the Central Water Commission (CWC), the water level decreased to 205.16 meters at 4 pm on Saturday.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand till July 25. According to the department, Haripur (126.8 mm) and Haldwani (122 mm) received heavy rainfall, besides Mussoorie (112 mm), Chakrata (83 mm), Loharkhet (68 mm), Dunda (91 mm) and Purola (90 mm) in many areas of Uttarakhand.
According to the CWC data, the flow rate at Hathnikund barrage in Yamunanagar crossed the one lakh mark at 9 am and the flow rate between 10 am and 4 pm was between 2 lakh and 2.5 lakh cusecs.
According to the Water Commission, ‘After overnight rains in the upper catchment areas of Yamuna, the flow rate from Hathinikund barrage remained above two lakh cusecs for seven hours, with the maximum flow rate recorded at 2,51,987 cusecs at 2 pm.
The commission said that this amount of water is expected to reach Delhi within 36 hours, which may pose a risk of moderate level flooding in the capital. The upper catchment states, mainly Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, have seen minor fluctuations in water levels in the last four to five days amid rains.
Officials of the Delhi Irrigation and Flood Control Department said that heavy rains in upper Delhi will affect the rehabilitation of flood-affected families in low-lying areas of the capital and they may have to stay in relief camps for a long time. It could also impact the water supply in the city, which was affected for four or five days after a pump house in Wazirabad was inundated, he said.
The pump house, located in Wazirabad, supplies raw water to Chandrawal and Okhla treatment plants, which is about 25 per cent of the city’s supply, the official said.
Parts of Delhi have been battling waterlogging and floods for more than a week. Initially, excessive rains on July 8 and 9 caused heavy water-logging and the city received 125 per cent of its monthly quota in these two days.
Meanwhile, heavy rains in the upper catchment areas of the Yamuna river, including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Haryana, raised the water level to a record level. The flow of water broke the embankments and entered much deeper into the city than in four decades.
The consequences of the floods in Delhi have been devastating, with over 27,000 people being evacuated from their homes in the city. The loss figure in terms of property, business and earnings has reached crores.
According to experts, the reason for the severe flood in Delhi is encroachment on the floodplain of Yamuna river, excessive rainfall within a short period of time and accumulation of silt.
