An ''Orange Alert" has been sounded in Delhi as the River Yamuna on Wednesday breached the danger mark, rising up to over 206 meters.
As per the Flood Control Department officials, the water level of the river was recorded to be 206.04 meters at 11 p.m. (IST) on Tuesday. According to reports, the water level has increased after more water was released into the river from Haryana's Hathnikund barrage.
Heavy rains across north India have brought the region to its knees, causing widespread damage and claiming more than 37 lives over the past three days.
As the water level continues to increase, the authorities have started evacuating people from the low-lying areas that are considered vulnerable to flooding. They will be shifted to relief camps and community centers in various parts of the city.
Some media reports quoting sources said that people residing on the floodplain and along the banks, in the Mayur Vihar Extension area of the national capital are being relocated.
Meanwhile, earlier Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that the city government was alert to the situation and fully geared up to deal with it.
While talking to the media about the situation, he said: “As the water level goes over 206 meters, we will start shifting people living on the banks. The process of taking them safely to relief camps will be started. Earlier, we anticipated that the water level would cross 205 meters on July 11. But it did so today itself as more water was released from Haryana.”
Earlier on Monday, Delhi State Chief and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal called a meeting to review the situation in the national capital amid heavy rainfall and increasing water level in the river.
He, however, said that there was no threat of flood in the city but the government was in touch with the Central Water Commission regarding the increasing level of water in the river.
The Orange Alert is a severe level warning and indicates being prepared.