Delhi minister Parvesh Verma on Monday said the government is closely monitoring the rise in Yamuna’s water level following the discharge from Hathni Kund barrage crossing 3 lakh cusecs, and the river at Old Railway Bridge flowing at 204.87 metres.
He said that forecasts suggest the level may cross the danger mark of 206 meters within the next 36 to 48 hours.
Verma has urged the citizens of Delhi to stay alert and extend full cooperation to the authorities, as timely action and collective responsibility will ensure that every precaution is taken in the interest of public safety.
Taking to social media platform X, the minister had also stated that Yamuna’s level may cross the danger mark later tonight.
However, Verma assured every citizen of the national capital that there is no need to panic, and the Delhi government is on high alert, teams are on the ground, and the regime is fully committed to safeguarding every resident of the city.
According to the minister, all sector officers, district administration, and police have been placed on high alert. Preparations have begun to shift people living in vulnerable areas along the floodplains to safer places. Round-the-clock patrolling has been initiated on embankments, and regulators and pumps are under constant supervision, he added.
It was at 0900 hours on Monday, September 1, that water exceeding 3 lakh cusecs had been released from the Hathni Kund barrage, and following this the I& FC department alerted its officers on ground in Delhi.
The department in its communication to the officers has said as the water level of Old Railway Bridge may cross the danger level and likely to exceed 206.50m (CWC advisory may expected soon), all the Sector Officers are advised to keep a strict vigil in their respective areas and to take necessary action at vulnerable points such as people residing within the river embankments shall be warned and shifted them to safer places.
The warning level of the Yamuna is 204.50 meters, while the danger level is 205.33 meters.
Back in 2023, the highest flood level observed was at 208.66 meters.
Earlier, the government had said that this time it has put arrangements in place to prevent floods with timely action on drain cleaning and proper channelizing of the river system by opening the gates at the ITO timely and monitoring the situation.