New DelhiDelhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday urged people living in low-lying areas near the Yamuna to vacate their homes as the water level in the river reached a record high, surpassing a 45-year-old record. In his appeal to Delhiites, Kejriwal said, “We have to protect life, property. There is a need to evacuate people in low-lying areas near Yamuna river.”
Meanwhile, the Delhi government has alerted the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) about the escalating situation and the rising water level in the Yamuna. The Chief Minister also directed the District Magistrates to convert schools into relief camps, if necessary, due to the rising water level in the Yamuna.
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Important press conference on rising water level of Yamuna river in Delhi. https://t.co/jvoeBUDbzd— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) 12 July 2023
Kejriwal also said that Union Minister Gajendra Shekhawat has informed him that the amount of water being released from Himachal Pradesh to Haryana has reduced, resulting in an impact on the water level in the Yamuna. However, he said that it will take some time for the water level of the river to come down.
The Yamuna in Delhi rose to 207.71 meters at 4 pm on Wednesday, breaking its all-time record of 207.49 meters set in 1978, inundating several areas and forcing Kejriwal to call an emergency meeting on the situation.
Delhi Chief Minister wrote a letter to Amit Shah
In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Kejriwal requested that “if possible, release water from Hathinikund barrage in Haryana in a limited manner” and pointed out that Delhi is set to host the G20 summit in a few weeks. .
“After my letter, I got a call from Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who said that Hathinikund is just a barrage and there is no reservoir to store water and limit the movement of water. Water to be released from Himachal Pradesh The amount of water has come down and the situation will improve. But it will take time to see its impact on the Yamuna’s water level,” he said at a press conference after the meeting.
My letter to Union Home Minister on Yamuna flood level… pic.twitter.com/dqDMLWuIfe— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) 12 July 2023
Do not go near the swollen river to take selfie: CM
After the meeting, Kejriwal said that for now the focus is on saving lives. He urged people, “Please vacate your houses. We are also seeing that some people are going to see the swollen river. Please don’t go there to take selfies.” Boat Club, Math Bazar, Neeli Chhatri Mandir, Yamuna Bazar, Neem Karoli Gaushala, Vishwakarma Colony and the stretch between Majnu ka Tila and Wazirabad have been inundated, he said.
The Chief Minister also said that the Delhi government has informed the NDRF that its help can be sought. He said that the District Magistrates have also been instructed to convert schools into relief camps, if required.
Gatherings have been banned in sensitive areas
In the wake of the crisis, the Delhi Police banned gatherings in sensitive parts of the city. Delhi Police has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC in flood-prone areas of the city. Thousands of people have already been shifted to safer areas as water entered houses and markets near the river. Estimates by the Central Water Commission show that the water level is likely to rise further.
The India Meteorological Department has predicted heavy to very heavy rains to continue over Uttarakhand over the next two days, increasing the risk of floods. The Delhi Disaster Management Authority has issued an advisory asking people to move to safer places and cautioned them against passing through low-lying areas.