Yamuna River Delhi Flood: Water Level Drops Slightly but Remains Above Danger Mark

The Yamuna river in Delhi receded slightly on Saturday, dropping to 206.47 metres at the Old Railway Bridge (ORB) from around 207 metres, but large areas of the city remain flooded as the river continues to flow above the danger mark.

Drone footage captured on Saturday revealed extensive flooding along the riverbanks, showing significant parts of nearby areas submerged.

The warning level for Delhi is 204.50 metres, the danger level is 205.33 metres, and evacuations begin at 206 metres. Earlier this week, the Yamuna crossed the evacuation mark and reached a record 207.41 metres on September 3, marking the third-highest level ever recorded in the city. This prompted authorities to move residents to relief camps.

The Old Railway Bridge (ORB), or Loha Pul, serves as a key point for monitoring river flow and flood risks. Flooding has affected several parts of the national capital, including Civil Lines, the monetary market there, Kashmere Gate ISBT, Yamuna Bazaar, and other adjoining areas. Officials are closely monitoring the situation, and all relevant agencies remain on alert.

According to the flood control department, the Hathnikund barrage discharged 50,629 cusecs of water at 9 am on Saturday, while the Wazirabad barrage released around 1,17,260 cusecs. These high discharges are cited as primary reasons for the swelling of the Yamuna.

Typically, water released from upstream barrages takes 48 to 50 hours to reach Delhi. Even smaller discharges from upstream are contributing to rising water levels, bringing the river dangerously close to the warning mark in the city.