New Delhi:
Water level in the Yamuna started receding in Delhi today but stayed above the danger mark of 204.83 metres. However many low-lying areas along the river, primarily in East Delhi, continued to remain inundated. As a result, traffic in several parts of the city was hit.
Among the areas that remain flooded were Usmanpur, Yamuna Bazar, Bhajanpura and Shastri Park, Garhi Mandu, Manju ka Tila, Usmanpur Pusta and Jagatpur.
Massive water-logging was also reported near the Tibetan monastery near Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) resulting in slow traffic movement on the Ring Road. Yesterday, the traffic police had advised residents to avoid this road.
(Read: Roads to avoid in Delhi)Closing of the Loha Pul, the city's 145-year-old railway bridge, also added to the traffic on the road. The bridge connects east Delhi to the heart of the national capital. It was closed after the water level of the Yamuna crossed the danger mark on Tuesday.
"Due to drift water opposite monastery on carriageway Chandgi Ram akhada side, there is water logging and road is also damage commuters avoid to take the route," the Delhi traffic police tweeted again this morning.
According to officials, Yamuna's water level was recorded at 206.83 metres at 2 PM today, which is two metres above the danger mark.
The water level in the river touched 207.25 metres late on Wednesday, the highest since 1978 when it reached 207.49 metres.
Nearly 5,000 people have so far been evacuated from the low-lying areas and shifted to the 19 relief camps and 500 tents set up by the government. 62 boats with divers have been pressed into service to rescue people.
A man drowned in the swollen river while bathing near Majnu Ka Tila in north Delhi yesterday.
The 'Disaster Control Room' in the office of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has been overseeing the rescue operation. A helpline number (1077) has also been set up for those seeking assistance.