On Tuesday morning, the Yamuna touched a seasonal peak of 205.95 m at around 4 AM. Even though the river has receded slightly, it is still comfortably above the danger level of 205.33 m throughout the day. From this point on, various low-lying areas in the Delhi NCR region got partially submerged. Families living around Yamuna Bazaar are now left with nothing, with everything destroyed by the overflowing Yamuna river. Families living around these areas have had to move into one of the temporary tents erected by the Delhi government opposite the old ghat, where most houses now stand half submerged.

“Everything in our house — our fridge, cooler, clothes, furniture — is ruined. We will have to buy everything again, which is impossible for us right now,” said 20-year-old Mamta Singh, who evacuated her house and is now inside a crammed tent. While talking to a national daily, Mamta Singh said that the sound of gushing water in the early hours of Tuesday was familiar to them, but this year her family’s priority is no less than a terror.

On the current situation, the Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that the Delhi government is well prepared for any flood crisis but also assured local families that the Yamuna water would decrease. On her visit to the locality in the morning, Gupta walked through waterlogged lanes speaking with the affected families. Even after her departure, the scene of devastation continued, with people wading through knee-deep muddy water, children helping elderly parents balance on slippery roads, and residents trying to retrieve whatever belongings they could before some of them were swept away.

The electricity in the area has been cut off to prevent electrocution, further complicating the lives of the people rescued inside the tents. “People cannot go to work or school. They have not eaten properly since the morning and walking through the lanes is dangerous. We are also spotting snakes in the water,” told another student to the national media.

Government Plan

The government has set up temporary tents at several locations around the river since Monday night. These areas include Sonia Vihar, Northeast Delhi Inter-State Bus Terminal at Kashmere Gate, Geeta Colony flyover, and Noida-Delhi Direct flyover in East Delhi.

The rise in the Yamuna river level followed the opening of the Hathnikund barrage for 12 hours between Sunday afternoon and early Monday morning, with more than 100,000 cusecs of water discharged — the season’s highest so far. The irrigation and flood control (IFC) official said that the situation did appear under control at first, however authorities could forecast a flood-like situation in some areas of Delhi. According to the CWC forecast for the coming days, the river water was likely to drop to around 204.49 m by Wednesday evening.

Flooding in the Yamuna Bazaar region is not new, as many residents born and raised here are already accustomed to the yearly disruption, but the fact that it still remains a problem is surprising for many.

“It is especially difficult for the elderly as they cannot move quickly. This dirty water also spreads diseases… Everyone’s work has been put on hold,” told 24-year-old Moni, who is pursuing a degree in social work, to the national daily. For others, the struggle is overwhelming.

According to the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), officials set up 20 tents from late Monday night, including one functional medical command centre and an incident command centre. Food was reportedly being served to residents by 2 PM on Tuesday and water tankers have been deployed. Government officials suggest that they are ready to increase the number of tents if required, but residents say that these measures can only partially reduce their problems. Most people have their daily life — including food, schooling, and jobs — highly affected because of the flood.

The Yamuna Bazaar region is vulnerable because of its location. The ghat is present right next to the edge of the Yamuna river, where water level rises and surges into homes abruptly for the families in Delhi.

In the meantime, the Delhi Chief Minister, accompanied by Cabinet Minister Parvesh Verma and senior officials, visited Asita Ghat, Yamuna Chhat regulator number 12, the East Delhi CM office and the central control room. During her visit, she emphasised that nodal officers be deployed in vulnerable zones along with deployment of mobile pumps, a 24×7 coordination hub, and boats.

“A central flood control room has been set up at the office of DDM East. It is now functioning as the city coordination centre with representatives of all civic agencies stationed around the clock… Our priority is that Yamuna water does not spill into main roads. All agencies are on high alert and the situation is under control,” said the Delhi CM.

CM Rekha Gupta Assures Delhi

According to Rekha Gupta, 15 wireless stations have been installed this year to track Yamuna water levels and waterlogging-prone pockets. Rescue equipment has been properly stocked up and relocation plans are ready to shift families from low-lying flood areas to more secure locations to keep roads dry and traffic movement unaffected. Gupta has also instructed the irrigation and flood control department to ensure regulators remain fully operational.

Delhi faced its worst floods of the decade recently in July 2023, when the Yamuna swelled after intense rainfall along with a massive release from the Hathnikund barrage. Learning lessons from the 2023 flood, Gupta underlined that, “This year, flood preparedness was placed in action mode before the monsoon. Nodal officers were appointed in key zones. PWD and MCD accelerated drain cleaning and pump houses were inspected… Even if minor problems arise, they will remain confined to the floodplains where water entry is natural. No flood-like situation will arise in the city,” said Gupta to the media, assuring Delhi that there was no need to worry.