New Delhi:
For most of the year, the Yamuna is effectively a polluted drain that flows through Delhi. There is little water and mostly polluted discharge from factories and settlements.
Now, the Yamuna is overflowing its banks because of the very heavy rains in the area over the last couple of days, and people living in low lying areas face an imminent danger.
Attempts are on to rescue those living on the banks of the Yamuna. Incessant rain in the catchment areas over the last few days has flooded the low-lying areas of Delhi. To make things worse, Haryana has released over six lakh cusecs of water from the Hathnikund barrage in the last couple of days.
Over 300 people have been affected, most of them farmers, living in scattered settlements. The Yamuna breached its banks on Friday night, marooning several families. The Delhi government has pressed 11 boats and 15 divers for rescue work.
"We have shifted around 150 houses so far," said Harish Kumar, in-charge of rescue boats.
Makeshift tents have been put in six places to accommodate the displaced. But many still wait for the rescue teams; like Jolly, who along with her husband and two children, have been stranded since Friday night.
"If the water level goes down we will return to our house, otherwise stay here," said Jolly.
Flooding of low-lying areas along the Yamuna is almost an annual feature, which means a tough time for the people.
"Problems is that Yamuna is probably the only river which has not been dammed. Work is on, and till then rising water level like this cannot be checked," said Rajiv Kumar, executive engineer, Haryana Irrigation Department.