Five days after breaching danger mark, Yamuna water level recedes in Delhi

Yamuna river

Officials on Sunday said the Yamuna’s water level at Delhi’s Old Railway Bridge had receded to the danger mark of 205.33 metres, five days after it was breached.

At 9 pm, the level was recorded at 205.33 metres. The river, which had risen to this season’s peak of 207.48 metres on Thursday, has been gradually falling since then.

Although the danger mark stands at 205.33 metres, authorities begin evacuations once the level crosses 206 metres. The warning threshold for the city is 204.50 metres.

The Yamuna had first breached the danger level on Tuesday, prompting the closure of traffic across the Old Railway Bridge. The flooding has forced nearly 10,000 people to leave their homes.

The Old Railway Bridge serves as a key observation point for tracking the river's flow and potential flood risks.

In the past few days, the Yamuna had inundated several areas along its banks. Tents have been set up on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, near Mori Gate and in Mayur Vihar areas to temporarily accommodate people evacuated from low-lying areas near the river.

Delhi battled one of its worst flood-like situations in 2023 when several areas were inundated, leading to the evacuation of more than 25,000 people.

The Yamuna reached an all-time high of 208.66 metres on July 13, 2023. The situation led to flooding in several parts of Delhi, including northeast, east and southeast districts and key spots like the Tibetan Market and Rajghat.

With inputs from PTI