Yamuna River Crosses Danger Mark In Delhi

Rising water levels in the Yamuna River have inundated large parts of Delhi’s Yamuna Bazar and nearby areas, displacing hundreds of families and leaving many without access to food or proper shelter.

At 8 AM on Tuesday, the Yamuna at Delhi’s Old Railway Bridge recorded a level of 205.85 metres, just shy of the 206-metre evacuation threshold.

On Monday afternoon, the river had already surpassed the danger mark of 205.33 metres, reaching 205.55 metres and continuing to rise steadily.

As floodwaters entered homes, families were forced to leave at short notice, carrying only essentials.

“Yesterday, at around 7 PM, water started coming into our homes. We had to run away, taking only important things. We are very troubled,” said Vivek, a resident.

Another local, Surendra Kumar, explained, “This problem had been there for the past few days, but yesterday things worsened as the water started coming in. The government has set up tents, and we are staying there for now. However, we cannot cook since our homes are flooded, and we have not received any food yet from the administration.”

Struggles on Rooftops and in Tents

Many residents have taken shelter on rooftops to protect their belongings from floodwaters.

“Since yesterday afternoon, water has accumulated, causing severe difficulties, and belongings have been shifted to the roof,” said Anirudh.

Dev Prakash Pandey echoed the concern, “We are facing a lot of problems. So many things, our belongings, everything is destroyed. We are forced to stay on roofs. We are not getting any food.”

Residents have compared the current situation to last year’s floods.

“Similar scenes were seen in 2023. They are saying the water levels will also rise. We are facing a lot of problems,” said Gauri Shankar.

Authorities have responded by opening all gates of the Okhla Barrage to manage the rising river levels. However, relief measures remain inadequate, particularly with food distribution yet to reach many displaced families.

With the Yamuna still swelling, residents fear further displacement and damage. Relief camps have been established, but locals allege poor arrangements, forcing many to survive without food.

The coming days will be critical, as authorities monitor the water flow and attempt to control the situation. For residents of Yamuna Bazar, however, the immediate need is clear: food, shelter, and safety from the rising river.

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