On Monday morning, the Yamuna in Delhi flowed more than a metre above the danger mark of 205.33 metres, prompting authorities to halt train traffic on the Old Railway Bridge (ORB).
According to a railway official, the suspension of train traffic on the ORB is a result of the Yamuna’s rising water level.
“The route between Delhi and Shahdara will remain suspended, and trains will be diverted via New Delhi,” the official stated.
The ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts in the flood-affected low-lying areas of the capital are anticipated to be impacted by the rise in the river’s water level, according to officials.
The water level increased from 205.02 metres at 10 p.m. on Saturday to 206.57 metres at 3 a.m. on Monday before it started to decline once more, according to data from the Central Water Commission (CWC).
At 8 am, the water level was 206.54 metres, and by 2 pm, it was predicted to fall to 206.42 metres.
Heavy to very heavy rain has been predicted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for portions of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand through July 25.
The flow rate at the Hathnikund barrage, which is located in Yamunanagar, surpassed one lakh cusecs at 9 am on Saturday, according to CWC data, and fluctuated between two lakh and 2.5 lakh cusecs between 10 am and 5 pm.
Officials from the Delhi Irrigation and Flood Control Department stated that the rehabilitation of the affected families in the inundated low-lying areas of the capital will be impacted by the heavy rain in the upstream areas of the river and they may have to stay in relief camps for a longer period.
It might also have an effect on Delhi’s water supply, which was interrupted for four or five days in the middle of July as a result of the flooding of a pump house in Wazirabad.
The Wazirabad, Chandrawal, and Okhla treatment plants, which together provide about 25% of the city’s supply, receive raw water from the pump house.
This month, Delhi struggled with unprecedented flooding and waterlogging.
On July 8 and 9, a downpour initially caused severe waterlogging, with the city receiving 125% of its monthly rainfall quota in just two days.
In the wake of this, the Yamuna river swelled to record levels in the upper catchment areas, including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana.
The Yamuna significantly surpassed its prior record of 207.49 metres set in September 1978 when it reached 208.66 metres on July 13. More deeply than it had in more than 40 years, it breached embankments and entered the city.
More than 27,000 people had to be evacuated from their homes due to the devastating effects of the floods. The losses suffered in terms of real estate, businesses, and earnings totaled millions.
The unprecedented flooding in Delhi is blamed on encroachment on the river floodplain, extremely heavy rain in a short period of time, and silt buildup that has raised the river bed, according to experts.
Source- mid day
Link- https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/delhi-yamuna-swells-further-old-railway-bridge-shut-for-train-traffic-23299693
