Several areas have been flooded as Yamuna now flows three metres above the danger mark
The water level in the swollen Yamuna in Delhi stabilised and then dropped a little this evening -- a first after two harrowing days of flooded homes and roads, evacuations, traffic diversions and miles-long jams.
Here are the 10 latest developments:
The water level in Yamuna, which stood at 208.66 metres at 8 pm today, went down to 208.63 at 10 in the evening. The current water level is still three metres above the danger mark.
The Arvind Kejriwal government had urged the centre to step in and stop the water discharge from Haryana's Hathnikund barrage. The centre replied that excess water from the barrage had to be released.
The Haryana barrage has filled up due to very heavy rain further north in Himachal Pradesh. The monsoon has brought large-scale destruction in the hill state, bringing down homes and sweeping away bridges.
Over the last five days, the schedule of 342 trains have been hit by the flood. The Northern Railway had to cancel 140 trains.
In Delhi, the posh Civil Lines area was waterlogged. The waters are barely 350 metres from the residence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the state assembly. Waterlogging has disrupted traffic on several roads, including parts of the arterial Outer Ring Road. Traffic has been diverted to alternate routes, leading to massive jams.
Compounding challenges for those taking public transport, Metro services have also been affected. The Yamuna Bank Metro station on Blue Line has been shut owing to waterlogging on the approach road. Although operations on all lines remain normal, trains are running at a restricted speed on Metro bridges.
Following a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, the Chief Minister ordered closure of all schools and colleges till Sunday. Government employees, except those in emergency services, have been asked to work from home. Private offices have also been advised to move to the WFH option.
"Honorable Prime Minister Mr. @narendramodi ji called from France and inquired about the waterlogging and flood situation in Delhi and the efforts being made to deal with it in detail. He directed to take appropriate steps in the interest of Delhi by taking all possible help from the Central Government," tweeted Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena.
Several teams of the National Disaster Response Force are on the ground, evacuating those whose homes have been flooded. Visuals showed people being rescued on boats from areas where water is flowing at the chest level.
The Chief Minister has sought citizens' cooperation for evacuation. "Saving lives most important. I appeal to all Delhiites to help each other in this emergency," he tweeted.
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