For the first time since the terrible floods of 2023, the Yamuna River has once again risen above the 206-meter mark in Delhi. This has led to a city-wide review of flood preparedness. The water level at the Old Railway Bridge rose to a scary 206.03 meters on Tuesday afternoon, which is a lot higher than the danger level of 205.33 meters. The water kept rising steadily, reaching 206.16 meters by 6 p.m. and forecasts said it may rise to 206.90 meters by Wednesday.
Government Gathers Resources and People
Because of the growing threat, Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma met with District Magistrates from South West, South, South East, and Central Delhi at a high level. Authorities were put on high alert and told to get ready for all evacuation and relief efforts.
“All departments are on duty 24 hours a day. “Every mechanism, from barrages to pumping stations, is being closely watched,” the minister stated. “Extra care is being taken with the Najafgarh Basin because it is quite weak during heavy rains. People in Delhi may be sure that we are fully ready for any flood catastrophe.
The Delhi government has put engineers and officers on standby around the clock to make sure they can respond quickly. The deployment includes two Chief Engineers, five Superintendent Engineers, and twenty Executive Engineers. There are also dozens of Assistant and Junior Engineers stationed all around the city.
A lot of planning is going on.
A lot of resources for battling floods have already been put in place in key areas, such as:
5.67 lakh empty cement bags to make bunds stronger
3,455 cubic meters of rock
14,370 wooden balls
675 life jackets and 58 boats
24 generators to help in humanitarian work
To stop water from pooling, the government has put in place 10 fixed pumping stations, 42 installed pumps, and 82 mobile pumps at places that are at risk.
The I&FC Department is also keeping an eye on the water levels coming out of the Hathnikund, Wazirabad, and Okhla barrages in real time, every hour. They are working closely with the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), Central Water Commission (CWC), and the Haryana government. The goal of this joint endeavor is to control the flow of water and stop a major flood from happening.
The South West district administration has been given the job of constantly patrolling the Najafgarh Basin, which is prone to backflow from the Yamuna, and keeping the area ready for emergency evacuations. There are also relief centers ready to help in low-lying communities along the river.