New Delhi: Amid a flood-like situation in Delhi and the water level in the Yamuna river reaching an all-time high of 208.48 metres, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced the closure of schools and colleges in flood-affected areas till Sunday. In a tweet in Hindi, CM Kejriwal said, “All government and private schools are being closed in areas of Delhi that are being flooded.”
DDMA meeting was held today to discuss the situation arising out of rising water level in Yamuna.
All schools, colleges and universities in Delhi are being closed till Sunday.
All non-essential government offices are being done from work from home. Work from home should also be implemented in private offices. pic.twitter.com/kiPVHsyXMW— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) 13 July 2023
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The Directorate of Education (DOE) also issued a circular to close all government and private schools in low-lying areas. “The Yamuna river water has crossed the danger mark, therefore the heads of all government and private schools in the affected areas have been ordered to take adequate measures to ensure the safety of the students. The circular states that all schools in low-lying areas where there is an imminent danger of flooding should be closed with immediate effect without waiting for any further orders.
The DoE has also directed zonal and district officials to get in touch with the schools and provide assistance. “Areas like East, North East, North, South East and Central districts have been affected and all schools in these districts should be closed with immediate effect without waiting for any further orders,” the circular said.
Later in a tweet, the Chief Minister urged all Councilors and MLAs to visit the relief camps and provide all possible help. “I appeal to all the volunteers, corporators, MLAs and all others to visit the relief camps and provide all possible help,” he added.
Earlier, on Thursday, the CM had urged people in the national capital to take care of each other and extend all necessary help amid floods caused by the rising waters of the Yamuna. The water level of Yamuna is increasing continuously. Now the water has reached 208.46 meters. Due to increase in the water level, Yamuna has come on the nearby roads. You are requested not to go on these routes. People are being removed from the populated areas where there is water. People living there are requested to cooperate with the administration. Saving lives of people is most important. Appeal to all the people of Delhi to cooperate with each other in every possible way in this emergency”, CM Kejriwal shared in a tweet.
Unprecedented increase in Yamuna water
The national capital recorded a rapid rise in the water level of the Yamuna in the last three days. The water level rose from 203.14 meters at 11 am on Sunday to 205.4 meters at 5 pm on Monday, crossing the danger mark of 205.33 meters 18 hours earlier than expected.
The river crossed the clearance mark of 206 meters on Monday night, prompting people living in flood-prone areas to shift to safer places and closing the old railway bridge for road and rail traffic.
The water level crossed the previous all-time record of 207.49 meters by 1 pm on Wednesday and 208 meters by 10 pm.
Flood like situation in Delhi
Several areas of the city were inundated due to heavy rains and the rise in the water level of the Yamuna river following the release of water from the Hathinikund barrage in neighboring Haryana. Traffic was disrupted at many places due to rise in the water level of Yamuna and consequent flooding of low-lying areas.
North-East District Police has informed that more than 1000 people and around 999 cattle have been rescued from different areas near Yamuna amid flood situation. This rescue was done in Usmanpur, Shastri Park and Sonia Vihar police station areas.
Also, according to official information, the movement of commercial vehicles will be regulated as non-destined commercial vehicles will not be allowed to enter Delhi and will be diverted to the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways.
Commercial vehicles will be diverted towards DND via Mukarba Chowk, Sarai Kale Khan, Ghazipur Border and Akshardham.
Officials further said that no commercial vehicle will be allowed between Mukarba Chowk and Wazirabad Bridge, Sarai Kale Khan and IP flyover and between Akshardham and Sarai Kale Khan.