According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), the Yamuna River in Delhi is anticipated to cross the warning level of 204.50 metres by 5 pm today (Tuesday), with projections indicating it will rise to 204.90 metres. Although the river is expected to remain below the danger level of 205.33 metres, authorities are urging residents to stay vigilant as the situation develops.
If reports are to go by, as of 9 AM this morning, the water level at the Old Railway Bridge station, which serves as a key indicator for the river's status across the city, stood at 204.35 metres, just 0.15 metres shy of the warning mark. Over the past few days, the river has shown a notable increase, rising by 1.47 metres on Sunday alone, moving from 202.82 metres to 204.29 metres.
The CWC has observed a steady upward trend in the water levels and has issued advisories to ensure that people remain alert until the river level drops below the warning threshold. While the immediate risk of flooding is considered low, the authorities are not taking any chances.
In response to the rising water levels, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj is set to review the flood preparedness measures. The review will focus on ensuring that all necessary precautions are in place to protect vulnerable areas and to coordinate any potential evacuation efforts if the situation escalates.
Last year in July, the Yamuna reached a historic high of 208.66 metres, well above the danger level. That unprecedented flood event submerged significant portions of Delhi, including key arterial stretches in Civil Lines, Mukherjee Nagar, and ITO, and forced the displacement of over 28,000 residents. The flooding was triggered by the heavy discharge of water from the Hathnikund Barrage, which released 3.59 lakh cusecs of water on July 11 due to intense rainfall in the river's upper catchment areas.
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Following last year’s disaster, the Delhi government has implemented a flood warning mechanism designed to respond swiftly to similar threats. This system activates district-level committees tasked with monitoring their respective areas whenever the Hathnikund Barrage releases over 1 lakh cusecs of water. The Yamuna River, which enters Delhi from Palla in the north and exits through Jaitpur in the south, typically takes 36 to 72 hours to reflect changes from the barrage, providing a critical window for response efforts.
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