Unstoppable deluge: Will Delhi drown under the furious Yamuna?

The city of Delhi is battling severe flooding due to a relentless bout of heavy rainfall and a record rise in the water levels of the Yamuna river that flows through the city.

Despite a decrease in the city’s flood alert from ‘extreme’ to ‘severe’, experts caution that additional rainfall could exacerbate the waterlogging situation, prolonging the time required for the water to drain.

After surpassing a 45-year record earlier this week, the water level in the Yamuna, which courses through India’s national capital, receded to 206.97 meters, providing some relief amidst the crisis. Nonetheless, flooding persists across various parts of the city, even as the river’s level remains significantly higher than the previous high of 207.49 meters recorded in 1978.

Rescue efforts are ongoing as flooded streets have forced authorities to evacuate residents, along with dogs and cattle. Residents from the city’s low-lying areas have expressed concerns about food shortages due to the floods. Two task forces have been deployed from Meerut to Delhi to support contingency plans.

Heavy rain and rising river levels lead to severe flooding in Delhi. Photo courtesy of Sidheeq/Wikimedia Commons.

Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal conveyed the efforts to open the Yamuna Barrage’s five gates to aid in draining the floodwater. He expressed optimism about the decreasing water levels in the Yamuna and assured that the situation would normalize soon if the rains subsided. However, he emphasized the need for continued vigilance, warning that the flood threat persisted and that the water levels could rise unexpectedly.

As the flooding worsened, reaching even the Supreme Court and several crematoriums, including Nigam Bodh Ghat, the Army and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed. Floodwaters have submerged central Delhi’s key areas, such as ITO and Rajghat, prompting traffic restrictions and the deployment of over 4,500 traffic personnel to manage the situation. The city government has also imposed restrictions on the entry of heavy goods vehicles, excluding those carrying essential items.

The first fatalities due to the floods were reported in the Mukundpur Chowk area of northwest Delhi, where three boys drowned while trying to swim in the floodwaters. Meanwhile, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority has ordered the closure of non-essential government offices, schools, and colleges until Sunday.