The water level at the Old Railway Bridge crosses the 208-metre mark on Wednesday night and has risen to 208.48 metres by 8 am on Thursday, July 13. It is described as an ‘extreme situation’.
New Delhi: The traging Yamuna in Delhi has risen to a to a staggering 208.48 metres on Thursday, July 13, inundating nearby streets and public and private places, making life difficult for people living in close proximity to the river, a special report in The Tribune, Chandigarrh, says.
The water level at the Old Railway Bridge crossed the 208-metre mark on Wednesday night and rose to 208.48 metres by 8 am on Thursday. It is expected to rise further, according to the Central Water Commission, which has termed it an “extreme situation”.
As the situation worsens with every passing hour, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has urged the Centre to intervene and the city police imposed Section 144 of the CrPC in flood-prone areas to prevent unlawful assembly of four or more people and public movement in groups.
Lt Governor VK Saxena has also called a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority.
Kejriwal has sent out a request to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, that the water from the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana be released slowly and reminded the minister about the upcoming G20 Summit in Delhi.
Meanwhile, CM Kejriwal on Thursday announced closure of schools in the inundated areas.
As the Yamuna water level rises, offices of CM Kejriwal, his cabinet and other senior bureaucrats inside the Delhi Secretariat have also been flooded, according to officials of the Public Works Department, coordinating with the traffic police and other agencies.
The road from Rajghat to Delhi Secretariat was also flooded. Officials said the Ring Road stretch between Kashmere Gate and Purana Lohe Ka Pul has been flooded and closed for traffic.
2 more breaches in Ghaggar in Punjab’s Sangrur lead to chaos
Sangrur: Two more breaches were reported in the Ghaggar near Banarasi village in this district leading to chaos.
While one of the five breaches in the Ghaggar has been plugged by the distrcit administration, The NDRF and Army authorities are trying hard to plug the other four.
“The Ghaggar developed two breaches on Wednesday night and water has been flowing out. We are trying to plug both the breaches. But the task is difficult as water has been flowing at a high speed,” said Rishi Ram, sarpanch of Banarasi village.
Surinder Banarasi, a local, said they had sounded the officials and are trying their best to mobilise all residents to help in the repair work.
“The water has started reaching Banarasi and other villages. If it continues to flow at the same speed, it would create havoc,” he said.
On Tuesday night, three breaches at Makraud Sahib, Mandavi and Phullad created problems. The Mandavi breach was plugged within hours. Besides the outflow of water from four breaches at Makraud Sahib, Phullad and Banarasi, locals have alleged that the Ghaggar has been overflowing at several other places too.
60 tourists evacuated from Lahaul and Spiti
Kullu: Meanwhile, As many as 60 stranded tourists have been evacuated from the remote Chandratal Lake to Kaza as the rescue operation began in Lahaul and Spiti on Thursday morning. The area has received over 4 feet of snow.
The BRO, ITBP, police and community members are evacuating the tourists out of the area.
As many as 293 tourists were stuck in the area since Saturday due to blockade of the road towards Chandratal from Losar.
Horticulture minister Jagat Singh Negi, said the evacuation from Chandertal is a “challenging task”.He, along with CPS Sanjay Awasthi, reached Chandratal by road to monitor the rescue operation.
Lahaul and Spiti SP Mayank Chaudhary said, “The rescue operation started around 7 am on Thursday. Seven vehicles have left towards Kaza from Chandratal. Around 60 people have left to Kaza from Chandratal at 7 am, while the remaining tourists are being evacuated.”
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