Delhi
Delhi Flooding: Schools, colleges shut till Sunday as Yamuna continues to rise
New Delhi: The schools and colleges in Delhi will remain closed till Sunday as the Yamuna River continues to swell with the water level reaching an all-time high of 208.6 m as the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana continues to release water into the river.
The Delhi government has also ordered non-essential government offices to remain shut till July 16, India Today report.
The Central Water Commission has called it an "extreme situation" as the water flow into Yamuna is expected to rise even further by 3-4 pm today, said the report.
The private establishments have been advised to strictly implement work-from-home policies during this period.
Amid the crisis, the city may also face drinking water problems as the government has shut down three water treatment plants at Wazirabad, Chandrawal and Okhla.
Further, businesses located near Kashmere Gate have been instructed to suspend their operations until Sunday.
Buses heading towards the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT) will be rerouted to the Singhu Border as a temporary measure.
To accommodate the affected passengers, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) will be deploying extra buses to facilitate their travel to their desired destinations.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said efforts are underway to lower the water levels, and restoration work is set to commence within two days.
It is worth noting that the Delhi Secretariat, which houses offices for Kejriwal, his cabinet, and other senior bureaucrats, experienced flooding on Thursday.
Waterlogging caused by heavy rainfall has severely impacted traffic movement on various roads, including sections of the important Outer Ring Road. As a result, traffic has been redirected to alternative routes, resulting in significant traffic congestion and jams.
To manage the situation, the traffic police have issued advisories detailing restrictions and regulations on vehicular movement in areas affected by flooding.
Several areas, including Monastery Market, Yamuna Bazar, Garhi Mandu, Geeta Ghat, Vishwakarma Colony, Khadda Colony, the vicinity of Neeli Chatri temple near Old Railway Bridge, Neem Karoli Gaushala, and a section of Ring Road from Wazirabad to Majnu Ka Tila, continue to experience flooding.
Due to the flooding, the Geeta Colony crematorium, situated near the Yamuna River in Old Delhi, has been temporarily closed.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has advised citizens to access the cremation facilities available at Karkarduma and Ghazipur cremation grounds instead of the Geeta Colony crematorium.
Arvind Kejriwal, after conducting an emergency meeting, announced that the administration is actively evacuating waterlogged areas and urged citizens to cooperate with the evacuation efforts.
To assist in rescue operations, 12 teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed on the ground.
To date, more than 16,500 individuals residing in low-lying areas have been relocated to safer locations at higher elevations.
Embankments are being constructed in low-lying areas to prevent the entry of floodwater, especially if the water level of the Yamuna River continues to rise.
These measures are being implemented to ensure the safety and well-being of the affected population.
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