River may rise further today

NEWDELHI: The Yamuna water level remained above the danger mark for the second dayon Sunday. It could rise further to touch the 205.6 metre mark by Mondaymorning, almost 80 cm above the danger level. As rescue operations continuedtill late evening, officials said everything would depend on how much waterHaryana released.The worst affected regions so far have beenlow-lying areas like Usmanpur, Sonia Vihar, Burari, parts of Okhla, Sultanpuriand Garhi. Large portions of the Yamuna floodplain have been submerged in thelast two days, damaging vegetable crops. Irrigation department officials saidHaryana had already released over 5,00,000 cusecs of water into the riverupstream from Hathnikund dam.Officials supervising the rescueoperation claimed over 1,000 people had been moved to safer areas and the searchoperation in Burari Pusta was continuing with National Disaster Response Force(NRDF) joining the operation. Flood control department officials said one boywas saved from drowning in Burari in the afternoon. Till late Sunday evening, atleast 35 people had been rescued from Burari Pusta. Most of them had either goneto collect vegetables or were women and children.According toofficials, the river had been flowing at 205.28 metres and it remained constantfor hours since afternoon. "Though this indicates the water level could startreceding, making any comment would be premature. We are ensuring no one is leftin the affected areas,'' said a senior Delhi governmentofficial.Meanwhile, what seems to have made the rescue operationtough is the reluctance of affected people to leave their homes. "Many peoplewhom we could not bring in the last trip were missing from the spot when wereturned to rescue them. They don't want to move out. We had even reached out toall the flood prone areas on Friday appealing people to move to safer places.Enough arrangements have been made for their stay and food,'' officialsclaimed.So far, the government has pressed 17 rescue boats intoservice and has put up makeshift tents and relief camps. Assistant commandant ofITBP Gopi Chand said, "We have our teams at every flood affected area and havebeen rescuing the affected people. Onlookers are hindering our operation. It'stough to stop people from coming close to the river bank.''WhileDelhi government distributed food and water at the relief camps, politicalleaders could also be seen trying to win the goodwill of those affected.Congress MP J P Agrawal was seen making the round of the reliefcamps.