Yamuna breaches danger mark in Delhi

The Yamuna breached the danger mark of 205.33 metres with the water level rising to 206.24 metres this morning as neighbouring Haryana released more water into the river from the Hathnikund barrage.

Officials said the river breached the danger mark earlier than expected and the evacuation of people from the low-lying areas has begun. They will be shifted to relief camps and community centres in various parts of the city.

The authorities have set up 16 control rooms to monitor the flood-prone areas and the water level of the Yamuna and tackle the problem of waterlogging in the city that has disrupted normal life.

Delhi has recorded the highest rainfall in 41 years that has disrupted normal life in the national capital. The last time it rained as much was in 1982 when there was 169 mm of rainfall in a 24-hour period.

The weather office has predicted more heavy rain for Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

As heavy rain choked almost all of north India, the Army and National Disaster Response Force have stepped in to intensify the relief and rescue operations in the affected states.

Heavy rains across north India have claimed over 30 lives over the past three days.

Several rivers in the region are in spate. In cities and towns, many roads and buildings remain submerged in knee-deep water.

In Himachal Pradesh  has been the worst-hit by the monsoon fury with flash floods, triggered by incessant rain, damaging houses, properties worth hundreds of crores of rupees.

The Himachal Pradesh Government has closed all the government and private schools and colleges in the state.

Landslides and flash floods were reported in neighbouring Uttarakhand as well, with rivers crossing the danger mark.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami assuring him of all help from the Centre.

The IMD said an interaction between a western disturbance moving in from the Arabian Sea and monsoon winds from the Bay of Bengal have had the impact of a double whammy resulting in torrential rains of unprecedented intensity.