Yamuna floods Delhi as upstream releases breach evacuation mark

Heavy monsoon rains and large releases from upstream barrages sent the Yamuna rushing through New Delhi this week, breaching the evacuation mark on Tuesday and flooding low lying neighbourhoods, forcing mass evacuations, halting rail and road movement and prompting widespread emergency response across the capital and neighbouring districts. The river peaked at a season high of 207.48 metres on Thursday before gradually receding to around the danger mark by the weekend, officials said.

At its Old Railway Bridge observation point the warning level is 204.5 metres, the danger mark is 205.33 metres and evacuations are triggered at 206 metres. The river first crossed the evacuation threshold on Tuesday and climbed to a peak that ranked among the highest on record, driven in part by large discharges from Hathnikund and Wazirabad barrages, Central Flood Control Room and ministry forecasts said. The Ministry of Jal Shakti warned that levels could rise further before receding.

Authorities began evacuating residents from low lying areas as floodwaters entered homes in parts of east and northeast Delhi, including Mayur Vihar, Yamuna Bazaar, Monastery Market and Civil Lines. Relief camps...