Chairing an emergency meeting of concerned officials on Monday in the wake of rising water level in the Yamuna, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the river is expected to breach the danger mark today evening.
Kejriwal informed that water could reach Delhi during the next two days with full force adding that all the concerned officers and ministers are monitoring the situation 24×7.
The Chief Minister further advised the people living in the Yamuna flood plains to evacuate and shift to tents or relatives’ residences as Haryana has released 8.28 lakh cusec of water.
He further assured that the situation was under control. “Delhi government is on alert mode, in tandem with the Central Government”.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal informed that 2120 tents have been deployed on both sides of Yamuna, fully equipped with food water and toilets.
23,860 is the number of people who need safe evacuation.
He further appealed to parents from the flood-prone areas to prevent children from going anywhere close to the waters.
Meanwhile, the water level of Yamuna River has reached 205 metres (the warning level is at 204.50 meters).
Vehicle movement on ‘Loha Pul’ (old iron bridge) over the river has been stopped owing to the rising water level.
The meeting comes amidst a flood alert being issued in parts of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh following incessant rains in northern India.
The Yamuna and other rivers neared the danger mark in the wake of incessant rains in the past few weeks in Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
Punjab and Haryana have received rainfall over ten times more than the usual.
In Punjab, flood alert was issued in 250 villages of eight districts following heavy rainfall
Himachal Pradesh received the highest ever rainfall for a 24-hour period on Sunday, killing at least 24 people, since records began almost 70 years ago.
The water level in major rivers of Himachal – the Satluj, Beas and Yamuna – which enter the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana has increased.
National Highway-3 between Manali and Kullu has been damaged due to heavy rainfall.
Several roads including 13 National Highways were blocked owing to heavy rains in the last 24 hours in Himachal Pradesh, resulting in heavy damages to roads, buildings and water supply schemes.
The administration of Kullu, Shimla and Sirmaur districts has declared A holiday on 19 August owing to widespread damage to roads.
In Uttarakhand, three people were killed and 22 are reported missing following a cloudburst.