Yamuna Crosses Danger Mark in Delhi; Flood Advisory Issued as All Hathnikund Barrage Gates Opened
Yamuna river in Delhi breached the danger mark on Monday, prompting authorities to issue a flood advisory as the national capital braces for a potential flood-like situation. The alarming rise in water levels is a direct result of all eighteen gates of the Hathinikund Barrage in Haryana being opened for the first time this monsoon season, releasing massive quantities of water downstream. The continuous discharge from both the Hathnikund and Wazirabad barrages is fueling the rapid swell of the river.
According to an advisory from the Central Water Commission (CWC) issued on Sunday, the river’s level at the Old Railway Bridge, a key monitoring point, was expected to reach 206 meters by the early hours of August 19, well above the danger mark of 205.33 meters.
The river had already crossed the warning level of 204.50 meters on Sunday evening. Officials confirmed that the Hathnikund barrage was releasing approximately 127,030 cusecs of water—the highest this season—while the Wazirabad barrage was releasing 45,620 cusecs every hour. Water released from these barrages typically takes between 48 and 50 hours to reach Delhi, indicating that the situation could worsen over the next day.
In response to the escalating threat, all concerned agencies have been placed on high alert. While the official evacuation process from low-lying areas is triggered when the water level hits 206 meters, authorities are already making regular announcements in vulnerable regions, urging residents to move to higher ground as a precautionary measure.
An official from Delhi’s Irrigation and Flood Control department noted that a specific warning is issued when the water discharge crosses 100,000 cusecs. The river’s level has been rising steadily over the past few days, climbing from 204.65 meters on Friday to 205.11 meters by Saturday, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
