New Delhi: The national capital of Delhi continued to grapple with flood-like situations in several low-lying areas on Friday, even as the water level of the Yamuna river gradually decreased after surpassing the danger mark. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms for the next 4-5 days in Delhi.
One of the most affected areas in Delhi is the ITO crossing, a bustling traffic intersection, which became submerged after a drain regulator malfunctioned due to rising water levels in the Yamuna. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal confirmed in a tweet that the breach in the regulator caused the flooding and has directed officials to seek assistance from the Army and disaster relief forces to address the issue urgently.
In days there has been a push to provide relief in the flood affected regions of Punjab and Haryana where heavy rainfall has caused substantial disruptions, to daily life. With the improvement in weather conditions during the three days authorities in both states have stepped up their efforts to deliver aid and support. The floods have impacted 14 districts in Punjab and seven districts, in Haryana.
After surpassing a 45-year record earlier this week, the water levels in the Yamuna river in Delhi receded to 208.02 meters at 10 pm on Friday. However, several key areas in the city remained inundated. The water level had risen on Thursday after a period of stability, reaching 208.66 meters by 7 pm, which was three meters above the danger mark of 205.33 meters.
Based on information provided by the Central Water Commission (CWC) the water level was recorded as 208.57 meters in the hours of Friday. It then experienced a decrease, to 208.48 meters at 5 am. Later in the day the level dropped further to 208.27 meters at 1 pm. As evening approached the water level stood at 208.17 meters by 6 pm. It continued to decline reaching 208.02 meters by 10 pm. Authorities are actively engaged in efforts to mitigate the impact of the floods. Are closely monitoring the water level situation in Delhi.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has requested an interim aid of Rs 2,000 crore from the Central government due to heavy rains triggering landslides and flash floods in the state. The downpour has caused severe damage to infrastructure and blocked important highways.
In Uttarakhand, the Yamunotri Highway 123 has been obstructed by debris flow, worsening transportation challenges. In Kerala’s Kuttanad region, despite receding monsoon rains, houses and roads remain flooded, causing delays in conducting funeral rites. The affected states require immediate relief and assistance to cope with the aftermath of the heavy rainfall and flooding.