Yamuna River reaches all-time high, leading to traffic congestions

The Yamuna River in Delhi swelled to 207.71 metres on Wednesday, breaking the previous record of 207.49 metres set in 1978, raising worries of floods in the national capital and surrounding suburbs, reported Hindusthan Samachar.

The river’s water level is expected to climb further, prompting officials to place 83 villages in Agra, stretching from Yamuna to Chambal, on high alert. Agra District Magistrate Navneet Singh Chahal conducted an inspection of the Pinahat region of Agra and Chambal.

While localities have been placed on high alert, flood prevention and public safety teams have also been dispatched. A coordinating committee comprised of representatives from all departments, including medical, electrical, and education, has also been formed.

The water level in the Yamuna has risen due to a large volume of water being released from Haryana’s Hathnikund barrage, according to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s letter to union Home Minister Amit Shah.

According to a top official, 3 lakh cusecs of water had been discharged from the Gokul barrage on the Agra side. The water level of the Yamuna River in Agra’s metropolitan region may rise on the night of July 13th, according to authorities.

There are 47 villages in Yamuna’s submergence zone. Arnav Kumar, a Mathura resident who runs a boat at Renuka Dham, said the Yamuna’s water level had been rising for two days.

Locals are using boats to cross the Yamuna by attaching ropes to trees on both sides of the river. Due to severe rainfall, the tracks were also flooded, further impeding train travel. Due to severe rains, seven trains were cancelled and the schedules of eight others were changed. Around 50 trains were operating far later than anticipated.