Yamuna water level starts dropping but still above danger mark

The low-lying areas near the river in Delhi are considered vulnerable to flooding and are home to around 37,000 people.

The water level in the River Yamuna in Delhi started receding after breaching the evacuation mark of 206 metres, with Haryana reducing the flow from the Hathnikund Barrage in Yamunanagar, officials said on Wednesday.

Authorities said they expect the Yamuna water level to recede further over the next two to three days as there has been no significant rainfall in the upper catchment areas of the river or in Delhi. 

The swollen Yamuna flooded low-lying areas along the riverbanks in Delhi on Tuesday, prompting authorities to evacuate around 6,500 people and suspend rail traffic movement on the Old Yamuna Bridge.

The water level in the river shot up to 206.59 metres by 7 a.m., much above the danger mark of 205.33 metres and the highest since August 2019. But it dropped to 206.58 metres by 8 a.m. 

A senior government official said they have deployed a large number of civil defence workers in the affected low-lying areas to prevent people from moving back into their houses till the water recedes to the normal level. 

The low-lying areas near the river in Delhi are considered vulnerable to flooding and are home to around 37,000 people.

"Most of the people shifted to safer places themselves. The Delhi administration had to evacuate around 6,500 and move them to community centres, schools and temporary tents," East Delhi District Magistrate Anil Banka said .