Yamuna recedes slightly, may rise again on Tuesday

NEW DELHI: Though the water level in the Yamuna began receding on Monday, slightly improving the flood-like situation in several low-lying areas along its banks, an alert has agan been sounded in the command area after more water was released by Haryana this morning.

The level of water in Yamuna came down to 205.88 metres at 8 pm on Sunday. It had touched 206.78 metres last evening, 1.95 metres above the danger mark of 204.83 metre, officials said.

"The water level has gone down substantially. It will recede further. Several low-lying areas which were inundated have also got slight reprieve," a senior official of the Flood Control Department of the Delhi government said. But he also added that Haryana, which had released over 10 lakh cusec of water into Yamuna in last four days resulting in rise in water level, released over 40,000 cusec of water on Monday as well.

Meanwhile, the Old Yamuna Bridge which was shut for road and rail traffic on Friday when the water level rose dangerously, has been opened for rail traffic at 8 pm, a Railway official said.

Due to the closure of the bridge, 25 trains were cancelled, 41 were terminated or originated short of destination while 36 trains were diverted today, he said.

Among the trains that have been cancelled are several passenger trains between Delhi and Ghaziabad, Saharanpur- Delhi Passenger, Kalka-Delhi Passenger and Delhi-Panipat Passenger.

The rising river has flooded several localities of east Delhi including Garhi Mandu, Usmanpur Pusta, Jagatpur Village and Shastri Nagar. Areas near the ISBT were also flooded, prompting thousands of people to stake shelter in government relief camps and in safer areas.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Flood Control Minister Raj Kumar Chouhan had yesterday visited several flood-affected areas to take stock of the relief and rescue operations.

She ordered the agencies concerned to ensure proper food, medicine, and drinking water supply to people living in the relief camps.

Flood water has also entered areas like Yamuna Vihar, Madanpur, Sonia Vihar, Nigambodh, Jaitpur, Tibet Market and Yamuna Bazar. Many people living in low-lying areas along the banks of the river were seen lined up on the footpaths on the ITO bridge with whatever was left of their belongings.

Meanwhile, the weather prediction spells bad news for Delhi government's Commonwealth Games preparations. The Met department says widespread rain and isolated heavy showers are likely for the next two to three days. "By the middle of the week, the intensity of rainfall will come down though the retreat of monsoon from the country is not likely to begin in at least another week or so," said Met officials