Yamuna swells to highest-ever level in Delhi

The water entered the Ring Road in north Delhi and caused waterlogging and traffic jams in several parts.

Jul 12, 2023 - 22:30

Yamuna swells to highest-ever level in Delhi

The water level in the Yamuna River in Delhi touched its highest-ever mark on Wednesday, PTI reported.

The levels at the Old Railway Bridge stood at 207.81 metres, breaching the previous high of 207.49 metres recorded in 1978, according to the Central Water Commission’s flood-monitoring portal. The water from the river reached the key Ring Road in north Delhi and caused traffic jams in several parts.

Traffic Alert
Traffic is affected on Ring road between Monastery and ISBT, Kashmere Gate due to overflowing Yamuna river water. Kindly avoid the stretch. pic.twitter.com/frUaY4WmnX— Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) July 12, 2023

The river had exceeded the evacuation mark of 206 metres on Monday night, prompting authorities to relocate people residing in flood-prone areas.

As a precautionary measure, the Delhi Police have imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, prohibiting large gatherings in the flood-prone areas of the Capital.

The sharp rise in water level was due to continuous rainfall in the Delhi-NCR region since Saturday. On Sunday, the city had witnessed its highest rainfall – 153 mm – in a single day since 1982. Besides this, Haryana had also discharged more water into the river from the Hathnikund barrage in Yamunanagar on Monday, according to PTI.