Noida/Ghaziabad/Delhi: The Yamuna continued to swell on Tuesday, displacing more than 10,000 people across Delhi and NCR as authorities rushed to reinforce embankments, activate relief shelters, and evacuate families from flood-prone zones.
At the Okhla Barrage, the river touched 199.5 metres by 7 pm—just 1.1 metres short of the 200.6-metre danger mark—amid heavy discharges from Haryana’s Hathnikund barrage. Over one lakh cusecs of water flowed downstream through the day, with releases climbing close to two lakh cusecs by night. The barrage had sent over three lakh cusecs into the Yamuna on Monday following intense rainfall in the Himalayas, raising fears of flooding for several days ahead.
Evacuations in Noida and Ghaziabad District officials began shifting families late Monday night. “So far, 600 people and 1,400 animals have been moved from the floodplains. Police and health teams are stationed at relief centres,” said ADM Atul Kumar.
Visuals from low-lying sectors showed residents wading through knee-deep water, pushing carts with household goods, and herding cattle to safety—scenes reminiscent of the devastating 2023 floods. In Momnathal village near Sector 150, residents expressed anxiety. “If the water rises further, it may enter our homes,” said Nem Singh, recalling how 18 villages were inundated in 2023.
To avert a repeat, officials said 19 flood posts are active, embankments are being reinforced, and 15 shelters readied across Noida and Dadri. Animal rescue groups, too, have joined relief work. “We rescued around 100 animals last night,” said Sanjay Mahalatra of House of Stray Animals.
In Ghaziabad, villages in Loni tehsil, including Pachyera and Mirpur Hindu, are bracing for impact as water levels near the 211-metre high-flood mark. The Hindon river, though below its 205-metre danger level, has flooded colonies like Rahul Vihar and Karhera. Twelve shelters have been activated, with divers, boats, and hospitals on standby.
Delhi on Alert In the capital, nearly 10,000 people from low-lying areas have been shifted to 28 camps across 11 districts. DM East Amol Srivastav, the nodal officer for the crisis, confirmed that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has been alerted.
According to Delhi’s flood control department, the Yamuna has breached the 205-metre level 43 times in the past 63 years, but only four times has it crossed 207 metres—the 2023 floods peaking at 208.66 metres.
The Central Water Commission forecast the river rising to 206.9 metres by Wednesday morning. With levels crossing 206.34 metres on Tuesday night, Railways imposed restrictions on trains using the Old Loha Pul, a key bridge linking Delhi to Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. Trains must now halt before the crossing and proceed at no more than 10 km/h.
As officials brace for more water releases from Hathnikund and Okhla barrages, flood-hit communities remain on edge, haunted by memories of last year’s devastation.
