Delhi schools are closed due to a flood alarm, and a water shortage is predicted as a result of shutting down plants.
Delhi is currently on high flood alert as the Yamuna River has reached a height of 208.6 meters. The swollen river has inundated low-lying communities, forcing people to evacuate. The closure of three water treatment plants due to flooding could potentially result in a shortage of drinking water in the city.
As a result of the Yamuna river reaching its highest ever level of 208.6 metres, Delhi is currently on high flood alert. Low-lying areas have been inundated due to the spate of the river, necessitating the evacuation process. The closure of three water treatment facilities due to flooding could lead to a shortage of drinking water in the city. As the water flow in Yamuna is expected to increase significantly by 3-4 pm today, the Central Water Commission has termed it as “peak condition”.
SCHOOLS SHUT, WFH FOR OFFICES
The administration has decided to close non-essential government offices, schools and institutions till Sunday, July 16, as a result of Yamuna rising to a staggering 208.6 metres. Private businesses have also been strongly advised to make it a practice to work from home during this period. Additionally, businesses near Kashmere Gate have been instructed to cease operations till Sunday.
Buses going towards the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT) will be temporarily re-routed to the Singhu border in terms of transport. Additional buses will be run by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) to ferry passengers to their destinations.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that efforts were being made to reduce the water level and restoration work would begin in two days. The Delhi Secretariat, which houses the offices of Kejriwal, his cabinet and other senior bureaucrats, was heavily waterlogged on Thursday.
FACTORS BEHIND FLOODING
On the Yamuna River, there are two significant fortifications: Dakpathar in Uttarakhand and Hathnikund in Haryana, upstream of Delhi. Since there are no dams on the river, the majority of the monsoon flow is wasted and floods occur throughout the rainy season.
The weekend’s high precipitation in Delhi and the surrounding areas and ongoing rains in the upper catchment areas have both contributed to saturated soil.
The water flow from the Haryana barrage is anticipated to begin decreasing at around 2:00 PM today, but the India Meteorological Department has forecast that Uttarakhand will continue to experience heavy to extremely heavy rains over the following two days, increasing the risk of floods.