Delhi flood alert: Yamuna River in the capital nears warning level, just 80 cm below danger mark

The Yamuna River's water level in Delhi is rising, approaching the warning level, officials reported on Thursday. At 9 am, the water level reached 204.43 metres at the Old Railway Bridge, according to officials. The warning level is 204.50 metres. The danger mark is 205.3 metres, and evacuations begin at 206 metres.

Authorities are closely watching the situation and have instructed all relevant agencies to prepare for potential flooding. The Old Railway Bridge is a key point for monitoring the river's flow.

An official stated, "The increase in the water level is mostly due to the large volumes of water being released from the Wazirabad and Hathnikund Barrage every hour due to rainfall in the upper catchment areas of Haryana and Uttarakhand."

The flood control department reports that approximately 31,250 cusecs of water are released from Wazirabad every hour, and about 25,126 cusecs are released from the Hathnikund Barrage. It typically takes 48 to 50 hours for water released from the barrage to reach Delhi.

Heavy rain disrupts Delhi, IMD issues orange alert

Delhi experienced heavy rainfall on Thursday morning, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue an 'orange' alert and caution that more showers are expected in the coming hours. The downpour caused waterlogging in several parts of the city, slowing down traffic and causing inconvenience for commuters during the morning rush.

Several key areas, including stretches along Ring Road, parts of South Delhi, and arterial roads connecting central and east Delhi, experienced traffic disruptions. Waterlogged roads were seen near Subroto Park, Outer Ring Road, Dwarka Sector-20, Basai Road in Gurugram, and areas in Ghaziabad and Noida. The Delhi Traffic Police warned that waterlogging at GTK Depot, Jahangirpuri, and Adarsh Nagar could severely impact traffic on Old GT Road. Commuters are advised to plan their journeys and use alternative routes where possible.

Rainfall recorded at multiple weather stations

In the 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am Thursday, Safdarjung recorded 13.1 mm of rain, Aya Nagar 57.4 mm, Palam 49.4 mm, Lodhi Road 12 mm, Pragati Maidan 9 mm, and Pusa 5 mm, according to IMD data. The IMD’s 'orange' alert signals residents to be prepared for moderate to heavy rain, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in various parts of the capital.

Delhi Temperature and air quality update

The rain brought Delhi’s minimum temperature down to 23.6°C, 3.2°C below normal, while the maximum is expected to reach around 32°C. The city’s Air Quality Index stood at 110 at 9 am, placing it in the 'moderate' category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. For reference, an AQI between 0–50 is 'good', 51–100 'satisfactory', 101–200 'moderate', 201–300 'poor', 301–400 'very poor', and 401–500 'severe'.

(Inputs from PTI)