Delhi has been placed on high alert as the Yamuna river reached its highest level in the past decade, surpassing the 207-meter mark on Wednesday morning. The increased water level is a result of continuous rainfall in the upper catchment areas, including Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, over the past few days. There is a possibility that the river may break its 45-year record today, as it reached its highest recorded peak of 207.49 meters on September 6, 1978, and has not exceeded that level since then.
At 9 am, the water level of the Yamuna river reached 207.32 meters, a level last observed on June 19, 2013. The heavy rainfall has caused damage to roads, infrastructure, and waterlogging, leading to disruptions in traffic movement within the national capital. The Delhi traffic police issued an advisory, urging commuters to avoid affected areas.
Due to the waterlogged Pragati Maidan tunnel, it will remain closed to the public today as authorities conduct cleaning and maintenance work at the site. The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, VK Saxena, is scheduled to visit the area to assess the progress of restoration work.
Additionally, there are traffic restrictions near the C-Hexagon stretch on India Gate, where a road collapse occurred. Repair work is underway, and commuters are advised to plan their journeys accordingly. Najafgarh Road is also experiencing disruptions, with the carriageway from Zakhira to Moti Nagar affected by waterlogging caused by a burst water pipeline.
Considering the dangerously high water level in the Yamuna River, the police announced the closure of Iron Bridge Pusta Road in Gandhi Nagar to the public and traffic until further notice. To monitor the Yamuna level and flood-prone areas, the Delhi government established 16 control rooms. Approximately 41,000 people residing in low-lying areas near the river are at risk of flooding.
