New Delhi: With an aim to ensure public safety, Delhi police on Wednesday imposed section 144 of CrPC in the flood-prone areas in the national capital, to prevent any tragic incident, as the Yamuna River breached the danger mark.
The Yamuna River breaks the 45-year record with a water level of 207.55 metres at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. The last highest record was 207.49, set in 1978.
According to a senior police official, the measures have been put into place fearing a chaotic situation during the relocation of people affected due to the flood in Delhi.
“Going with the present situation, two police stations located in flood-prone areas in North East Delhi have been ordered to shift to higher floors and other police stations in the vicinity have been instructed to be on alert as Yamuna River has breached the danger level and the water level continues to rise,” the official said.
The official informed that police are coordinating with other local bodies to deal with any untoward situation. “All police stations have been put on alert as evacuation from flood-affected areas,” officials stated.
“The imposition of prohibitory orders is to deal with the situation in case of evacuation and distribution of relief items,” the official added.
However, data show that the water level has been rising since the morning. According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), the water level at the Old Railway Bridge reached 207 metres for the first time since 2013, at 4 a.m., and increased to 207.55 metres by 1 p.m. The level is expected to climb further, and by midnight, the water level in the Yamuna is expected to reach 207.72 mts.
In the wake of the situation, Delhi Chief Minister chaired a high-level meeting to take the stock of surging water level of the Yamuna River.
Kejriwal seeks Central’s intervention and says that the water level should not rise. “Central Water Commission predicts 207.72-meter water level in Yamuna tonite. Not good news for Delhi. There have been no rains in Delhi last 2 days, however, levels of Yamuna are rising due to abnormally high volumes of water being released by Haryana at Hathnikund barrage. Urge Centre to intervene and ensure that levels in Yamuna don’t rise further,” Delhi CM asserted.
Central Water Commission predicts 207.72 meter water level in Yamuna tonite. Not good news for Delhi.
There have been no rains in Delhi last 2 days, however, levels of Yamuna are rising due to abnormally high volumes of water being released by Haryana at Hathnikund barrage.… pic.twitter.com/3D0SI2eYUm
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 12, 2023
Delhi PWD minister Atishi said, “We are regularly conducting evacuations near the Yamuna River. Several embankments have been installed to prevent the breach of water.”
Many portions of the Yamuna floodplain are already flooded. Yamuna Bazaar, Vijay Ghat, Tibet Market, Metcalf House, and Monastery Market are among the sensitive areas.
The Hathnikund barrage dumped 7 lakh cubic metres of water into Delhi in 1978, causing a flood. At the time, the Yamuna River level at the Old Railway Bridge was 204.79 metres. Kejriwal recently used the data and stated that there was no flooding in Delhi after then, even though the Yamuna River had crossed the danger level in subsequent years as well.
