Floods may hit low-lying city areas

NEW DELHI: The fear of floods looms large over Delhi with the water level of the Yamuna continuing to rise till Sunday evening. The water level is likely to increase by another 2-2.5 feet over the next two days. If that happens, the embankment will not be breached but the surrounding low-lying areas will get flooded.
Meanwhile, reports from Haryana said Delhi and the national capital region will get around 4 lakh cusecs of rain water released into the Yamuna river due to heavy rains in Himachal and Haryana within 72 hours starting 9am on Sunday.That much water is five times what is normally released into the Yamuna.
Delhi government officials said that though the water level had receded to 205.05 metres by Sunday afternoon, by evening it had again risen to 205.10 meters. "Considering how much water is flowing in from Hathnikund barrage in Haryana, the water level is likely to touch 205.80 meters. The increase will not pose any threat to the city,'' said a senior official. He added that while they did expect the water level to recede, much would depend on the rain gods.
The official claimed the government has pressed all necessary manpower into dealing with the crisis. The river crossed the danger level of 204.8 metres late on Friday night. Haryana irrigation department has released 2.69 lakh cusecs water from Hathnikund because of the recent heavy rain. Department officials said that when 2.5 lakh cusecs water is released from Hathnikund barrage, it is termed high flood level and alerts are immediately issued.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, rescuers evacuated people from low-lying areas along the Yamuna in the capital. A senior official of the flood control and irrigation department of Delhi government claimed they are fully geared to meet any flood situation. About 150 technical staff are monitoring the water level of the Yamuna. The government has also set up a control room to monitor the situation round-the-clock.
About 63 boats along with divers and a team from the National Disaster Management Force (NDMF) have been deployed at different spots along the river. "We carried out search operations during the day in the low-lying areas that have already been flooded. Things are not that alarming as of now but the water level might go up. In case more manpower is needed, people will be deployed," said assistant commandant Gopi Chand of the NDMF.
A release issued by the chief minister's office said 10 relief camps have been set up near the low-lying areas, where temporary shelters have been installed. These areas include Ushmanpur, Garhimandu, Badarpur Khadar, near ISBT bridge, and opposite Chilla village.
Officials claimed they have taken all preventive and safety measures. Around 500 people living close to the river have been evacuated and shifted to camps that have been set up in safer areas.