Delhi: Yamuna River's water-level breaks 45-year record, areas in ITO, Kashmere Gate inundated.


The Yamuna River in Delhi reached its highest-ever water level on Wednesday, measuring 207.55 meters. The rising water levels of the Yamuna River, according to officials, prompted Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi chief minister, to call an urgent meeting, according to PTI.


The water level of the river has been rising since Wednesday after it breached an all-time high mark in more than 45 years.

Authorities have evacuated thousands from nearby low-lying areas and have diverted traffic from arterial roads.

Northern India has witnessed record rainfall so far this monsoon season, which began in June, officials say.



Since the rains started late last month, at least 88 people have died in Himachal Pradesh, and adjacent states like Punjab and Haryana have also been experiencing severe flooding.

The water level of the Yamuna rose to 208.46 meters on Thursday morning from 207.49 meters the day before, the highest level in 45 years, according to officials.

Numerous low-lying places and highways have been submerged by water from the swollen river. Authorities have redirected traffic away from flooded roadways and closed 17 schools in flood-affected areas.

A main route leading to Connaught Place, a well-known business district in central Delhi, was also reportedly inundated, according to the PTI news agency and footage from local TV channels showing the street outside Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence being flooded.


Mr. Kejriwal claimed on Wednesday that he had requested the federal government to limit the quantity of water being released from the Haryana-based Hitchhiked Barrage, which he claimed was causing the Yamuna to swell.


According to the authorities, the flow of water from the barrage will start to decrease by 14:00 IST (08.30 GMT) on Thursday, which should provide some relief to the areas that have been inundated.

According to the Times of India newspaper, the Delhi government has relocated more than 16,000 people to relief tents set up beneath flyovers.

On Thursday, the governor of the state is scheduled to meet with the Delhi Disaster Management Authority to examine the flood situation.



The annual monsoon rains are India's lifeline, yet they also frequently result in fatalities and property damage.

India has experienced increasingly extreme weather in recent years - the unrelenting rains come just weeks after an extreme heat wave gripped most of north India.

Many factors contribute to flooding, but experts say climate change caused by global warming makes extreme rainfall more likely.