Delhi flood risk: Yamuna still above danger mark

An official said of the over 15,000 people moved out of the Yamuna floodplains

Delhi flood A flooded residential area of New Delhi | AFP

The Yamuna continued to flow well above the danger mark on Wednesday, but Delhi government officials said the water level was constant at 206.60 metres for several hours and was likely to recede.

The river breached the danger mark of 205.33metres on Monday.

Over 15,000 people living in the Yamuna floodplains have been shifted to tents set up by various government agencies due to the river water inundating low-lying areas, officials said.

"The level of Yamuna at railway bridge was 206.60 metres at 10am. This water level is constant for the past six hours and expected to recede later on," said an official at the flood department's control room.

From Hathnikund Barrage, 16,280cusecs water was released in the river from Haryana side at 10am, he said.

The train traffic over old Yamuna bridge(Lohewala Pul) was temporarily suspended on Tuesday night and several trains were diverted to their destinations, said a Northern Railways spokesperson.

In view of the rising level of water, authorities in Delhi have already shut the Lohewala Pul on the Yamuna for traffic.

A government official said of the over 15,000 people moved out of the Yamuna floodplains, 10,500 have been put up in 2,300 tents.

In 1978, the water in the river rose to its highest-ever level of 207.49 metres, causing a devastating flood in the national capital.

The river flows through six districts of Delhi whose low-lying areas are prone to flooding. The administration has deployed 30 boats to prevent accidental drowning.

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