Delhi Delhi floods: Authorities rush to open jammed gates of Yamuna Barrage
New Delhi: Heavy rains lashed Delhi on Saturday, reigniting fresh fears of flooding even as large parts of the national capital remained submerged as the Yamuna River flowed at a record-high level in the past few days.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has given assurance that steps are being taken to unblock all five gates of the Yamuna Barrage.
Currently, some of the gates are jammed by silt, which hampers the effective drainage of floodwater.
The aim is to address this issue and facilitate smoother water flow to mitigate the impact of flooding.
"The water level in the Yamuna is receding. The situation will be normal soon if it doesn't rain. If it rains, then it may take a bit longer," Kejriwal said earlier in the day.
Although the "severe" flood alert has been downgraded after a four-day period, the city continues to remain on high alert.
The Yamuna River, which reached a peak of 208.66 meters earlier this week, breaking a 45-year record, has now receded to 206.97 meters.
Despite the decrease in water levels, precautionary measures are still in place to monitor the situation closely and ensure the safety of the city and its residents.
Authorities are currently engaged in ongoing rescue operations to evacuate residents and animals from areas where water levels have risen to chest level.
The transformation of roadways into miniature rivers has posed significant challenges in terms of transportation and accessibility.
Swift and coordinated efforts are being made to ensure the safety and well-being of affected individuals and animals during this challenging situation.
The scarcity of food in low-lying areas has sparked complaints among residents, adding to the urgency of the situation. Two task forces are being relocated from Meerut to Delhi to assist in handling the crisis.
Yesterday, in response to the flooding that affected central Delhi, including areas such as ITO and Rajghat, the Indian Army and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were called upon for assistance.
The floodwaters have reached critical levels, submerging key locations such as the Supreme Court and several crematoriums, including Nigam Bodh Ghat.
This situation has prompted urgent measures to ensure the safety of the affected areas and provide necessary aid and support to the affected individuals and institutions.
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