Flood situation improves in Delhi as Yamuna recedes, water level 2 m above danger mark

New Delhi: The water level in Yamuna river receded on Saturday improving the flood situation in the national capital.

Heavy rainfall is not expected in the city or the higher reaches anytime soon. The situation in the national capital's flooded areas is also improving, Divisional Commissioner Ashwani Kumar said during a press conference here.

He also expressed disappointment over elected representatives targeting officers who have been working "tirelessly" to bring the flood situation in the city under control.

Baseless allegations should not be levelled against the officers. "These distract the officers," he said.

The water level had come down to 207.43 metres by 10 am on Saturday from its peak of 208.66 metres at 8 pm on Thursday, according to the Central Water Commission.

However, it is still over two metres above the danger mark of 205.33 metres.

Army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed in Delhi on Friday as Yamuna water continued to flow to major areas of the national capital including ITO, Rajghat and Supreme Court. It is reported that a breach caused by a malfunctioning drain regulator triggered the waterlogging. Delhi government confirmed that the faulty regulator has been fixed.

At the same time, the IMD sounded a 'yellow' alert for Saturday as it predicted moderate rain and thundershowers in Delhi. Commuters have been facing issue as all major roads are completely indundated.

Water treatment plant resumes operation

As the Yamuna water level reduced, the Okhla water treatment plant, which was shut on Thursday, was opened.

In the evening, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the Wazirabad and Chandrawal water treatment plants will resume functioning if the Yamuna level goes down to 207.7 metres on Saturday.

Indraprastha regulator breach fixed

In a midnight update, the Lt Governor's Office said that the Army has sealed the breached embankment at the Indraprastha regulator to prevent floodwater from entering Delhi.

Due to the breach, water had started to flowing into the city through a drain, inundating the Ring Road, Indraprastha Metro Station, IP Depot, ITO and Vikas Marg, reaching the entrance of the Supreme Court in central Delhi.

Vikas Marg, one of the important stretches connecting east and Central Delhi, was closed for traffic.

Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged there was a delay in the deployment of the NDRF for repairing the regulator even as the L-G asked him not to indulge in a blame game.

The Indraprastha water regulator was breached due to a strong current in the river, Kejriwal said earlier in the day while visiting the site.

The flow of water from the river was so strong that it breached the regulator and entered the city. Even though the water level in the Yamuna is receding, the damaged regulator led to excess water in ITO and nearby areas, Kejriwal told PTI Video.

Kejriwal slams Haryana govt

Visiting the ITO barrage, where five of the 32 games were jammed, obstructing the drainage of water out of Delhi, he had said, "The Navy is working to open them but it cannot be said when these will be opened."

"The Haryana government is responsible for the maintenance of the barrage but they have no interest. We will surely begin the process to take control of the barrage," Kejriwal had told reporters.

He, however, said this was not the time for a blame game. Everyone should work together to tide over this huge crisis, the chief minister stressed.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh lashed out at the BJP-led Haryana government, accusing it of being responsible for the Delhi flood by releasing water in the Yamuna from its Hathnikund barrage.

Hitting back, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva alleged the Kejriwal dispensation was "evading responsibility" and blaming other states for the flood-like situation in the city, as it did during the Covid period.

Stranded students rescued

Meanwhile, more than 60 students from Blind School in Kingsway Camp in northwest Delhi were rescued to safety by a team of the Delhi Police after floodwaters entered its premises.

The NDRF team, using boats, rescued 60 dogs and 50 cows that were stuck at an animal shelter home in Mayur Vihar due to inundation.

The flood-like situation in Delhi has also inundated crematoriums in the vicinity of the Yamuna.

Crematoriums at Nigambodh Ghat, Geeta Colony, Wazirabad and Sarai Kale Khan have been closed because of flooding, Mayor Shelly Oberoi said on Friday.

Traffic restrictions in place

The Delhi Traffic Police closed vehicular movement in both directions on the Vikas Marg. No vehicles were allowed from Laxmi Nagar T-point to A point in ITO and vice-versa.

The Delhi Traffic Police has put out an alert urging people to plan their journeys accordingly in view of the flood-like situation in many parts of the city.

Over 4,500 traffic personnel have been deployed in affected areas to decongest traffic and help navigate commuters, police said, adding, the traffic restrictions will be lifted depending on how fast the water recedes.

Work on the construction of a 560-metre bridge, the first metro bridge over the Yamuna to be built using the cantilever construction technique, has also been halted due to the rising water level of the river.

(With PTI inputs)