“Evacuate, Don’t Wait,” Arvind Kejriwal Warns People In Delhi’s Low-Lying Areas

New Delhi:

As the Yamuna River in Delhi swelled to a record-breaking level on Wednesday, surpassing a 45-year-old record, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has urged residents in low-lying areas near the Yamuna River to evacuate.

“We have to protect lives, properties. People in low-lying areas near the Yamuna River need to be evacuated,” Mr Kejriwal warned in a press conference on Wednesday. The Delhi government has alerted the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) of the escalating situation, he said.

Mr Kejriwal also instructed district magistrates to convert schools into relief camps if necessary due to the increasing water levels in the Yamuna.

The Yamuna in Delhi swelled to 207.71 meters on Wednesday, surpassing its previous record of 207.49 meters set in 1978. The surge in water level prompted an emergency meeting chaired by Mr Kejriwal.

In the wake of the crisis, Delhi Police banned gatherings in vulnerable parts of the city.

Thousands of people have already been relocated to safer areas as water invaded homes and markets near the river. Projections from the Central Water Commission suggest that water levels are likely to rise further.

The India Meteorological Department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall to continue in Uttarakhand in the next two days, exacerbating the flooding risk.

In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Mr Kejriwal requested for a limited release of water from the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana, to help manage water levels in the Yamuna.

“The news of flood in the capital of the country will not send a good message to the world. Together we will have to save the people of Delhi from this situation,” Mr Kejriwal said, pointing out that Delhi is preparing to host the G-20 Summit meeting in the coming weeks.

Frustration is mounting among the displaced residents in Delhi. Some have expressed disappointment with the government’s perceived lack of adequate response to the crisis.

Revenue Minister Atishi affirmed that the Delhi government is taking measures to reinforce river embankments and evacuate people from the floodplains. The Delhi Disaster Management Authority has issued advisories for residents to relocate to safer areas and avoid low-lying regions.

Flooding is not new to Delhi, with major floods recorded in 1924, 1977, 1978, 1995, 2010, and 2013. Analysis shows an increasing trend for floods in September, while a decreasing trend is observed in July.

Experts have attributed the record water levels to riverbed elevation caused by significant silt accumulation. Insufficient dredging and a plethora of bridges and barrages obstructing the river flow have led to the build-up of silt in the riverbed.

Continued rainfall in the upper catchment areas and saturated soil due to heavy precipitation in Delhi and nearby regions over the weekend have contributed to the sharp rise in water levels.