New Delhi : Yamuna breaches the danger mark and authorities have evacuated people from plains around to higher ground. The river has exceeded safety level of 206 meters, and now stands above 208 meters, the highest recorded in past 44 years. Authorities to shift people near Akshardham to Mayur Vihar area. 10 Metro stations have been shuttered following flooding.
The evacuees are mostly smalltime farmers and shopkeepers or odd-job workers. The displaced people appealed to the Arvind Kejriwal govt in the national capital to help them with the crisis. Arvind Kejriwal on his part urged Amit Shah to order for controls in discharge from Hatnikund dam in Haryana into the Yamuna. However, the Centre has expressed helplessnes in this regard.
Large farm areas became inundated and acres of crops destroyed. Flooding happens around here once every 2- 3 years. The floodplains of Yamuna are home to precarious shanties sprawled across its wide swath where some of the poorest in city, mostly migrant labourers, live.The region has close to 40000 people at any given time.
Relief work is progressing on war footing in Punjab and Haryana, which have been affected by heavy rains. In addition to the NDRF, the Haryana government also requested the help of the army. About ten thousand people were evacuated in Patiala, Rupnagar, Moga, Ludhiana, Mohali, SBS Nagar and Fatehgarh Sahib districts of Punjab. About 20 people died in both the states.
Meanwhile, Delhi has announced "Work from home" for several employees.
