The Yamuna in Delhi surged to a staggering 208.04 metres at 7 am on Thursday, which is three metres above the danger level, news agency ANI reported. The river broke the previous all-time record of 207.49 metres set 45 years ago by a significant margin, and causing immense difficulties to people living in close vicinity to the river. The water level at the Old Railway Bridge crossed the 207-metre mark at 4 am, the first time since 2013, and rose to 208.08 metres by 11 pm. It is expected to rise further.
The Central Water Commission had forecasted a significant increase in the river’s water level by Wednesday night, but it crossed that level before the expected time. It had suggested that the water level would increase to 207.90 meters by the morning of July 13, but the level has already exceeded 208 meters. The CWC termed it an “extreme situation”.
With the situation worsening every passing hour, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged the Centre to intervene and the Delhi Police imposed Section 144 of the CrPC in flood-prone areas to prevent unlawful gathering of four or more people and public movement in groups.
