NEW DELHI: Yamuna's water level in Delhi is receding after temporarily surpassing the danger mark of 205.33 meters due to heavy rain in the upper catchment areas. On Wednesday morning, the water level at the Old Railway Bridge was 205.14 meters according to the Central Water Commission's (CWC) data. The river had briefly breached the warning mark of 204.5 meters on Tuesday, peaking at 205.39 meters by 10 pm.
A CWC official mentioned that unless the hilly regions experience more rain, the river is not likely to rise to the evacuation level of 206.00 meters in Delhi. The city experienced light rain on Wednesday, with dry conditions predicted for the upcoming days.
In Himachal Pradesh, rain has caused extensive damage, resulting in the loss of at least 56 lives since Sunday. Torrential rain also wreaked havoc in Uttarakhand, leading to landslides that damaged national highways to Badrinath, Kedarnath, and Gangotri shrines, along with overflowing rivers like Ganga, Alaknanda, and Mandakini.
Delhi had previously faced severe flooding in mid-July due to heavy rainfall in Yamuna's upper catchment areas. The river surged to a record height of 208.66 meters, breaking previous records and causing widespread flooding that affected over 27,000 people and incurred significant property and financial losses.
Encroachments on the river's floodplain, rapid intense rainfall, and silt buildup on the riverbed were identified as factors contributing to the flooding. The Yamuna river system's catchment extends over regions of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Delhi.
Low-lying areas near the river in Delhi, with around 41,000 residents, are particularly susceptible to flooding. Despite the land being owned by the Delhi Development Authority, the revenue department, and private individuals, encroachments on the floodplain have persisted. Floods tend to heavily impact the city's northeast, east, central, and southeast districts, with east Delhi identified as highly vulnerable in a study on "Urban Flooding and its Management" by the irrigation and flood control department.
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