The Yamuna river in Delhi crossed the danger mark of 205.33 meters on Tuesday morning following heavy rain in the river’s upper catchment areas over the past two days. However, the water level started to recede on Wednesday morning and stood at 205.14 meters at 8 am.
The CWC official said that the river may not swell to the evacuation level of 206.00 meters in Delhi unless the hilly region receives more rain. Delhi recorded light rain on Wednesday and dry conditions are predicted over the next few days.
The flooding in Delhi was caused by a combination of factors, including heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas, encroachment on the river’s floodplain, and silt accumulation that has raised the riverbed.
The low-lying areas near the river in Delhi, inhabited by around 41,000 people, are considered prone to flooding. Encroachments on the river’s floodplain have occurred over the years despite the land belonging to the Delhi Development Authority, the revenue department and private individuals.
The city’s northeast, east, central and southeast districts are most affected by floods in the city. A study on ”Urban Flooding and its Management” by the irrigation and flood control department identifies east Delhi under the floodplain region and highly vulnerable to floods.
The Yamuna river system’s catchment covers parts of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi.
