Yamuna floods parts of Delhi

NEW DELHI - The Yamuna continued to rise Saturday, flooding low-lying areas in the capital as a spell of heavy rain in the morning added to the concerns of people.

According to an official of the Department of Irrigation and Flood Control, the water level in the Yamuna reached 206.66 metres Saturday morning, almost two metres above the danger level of 204.83.

The river’s water level is expected to rise further and reach 206.85 metres by evening.

The river crossed the danger level Thursday evening, forcing closure of the vintage rail-cum-road double-decker iron bridge and diversion of all traffic to other roads.

Around 100 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel have been deployed to assist the local authorities.

“Around 30 boats and 100 booster pumps have been pressed into action along the banks of the river and low-lying areas like Garhi Mandu, Shastri Nagar, Usmanpur Pusta and Jagatpur to pump out water,” added the official.

In the 1978 floods, more than 250,000 people were affected when the river crossed 207.48 metres.