Yamuna to break 35-year record Wednesday

The water level in the Yamuna river here will reach 207.7 metres by Wednesday evening, the highest ever recorded in 35 years, a government official said.

The highest level ever reached by the Yamuna waters in the city before this was in 1978, when the river was flowing at 207.48 metres.

"The forecast says that the water level of the Yamuna would reach 207.7 metres and this is the highest ever recorded," Dharmpal, secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, told IANS.

During the day, the river was flowing at 206.98 metres, having crossed the danger mark of 204.83 metres.

The nurseries and huts of farmers around the bank were submerged when the river breached its banks Monday. People dislodged by the river were put up in tents along elevated roads and bunds near ITO (Income Tax Office).

"Around 272 people have been provided shelter in 43 tents around ITO," said Satnam Singh, district warden of Delhi Civil Defence.

The level of the Yamuna rose Monday after 8.06 lakh cusecs of water was released from the Hathinikund barrage in Haryana. An additional 3.38 cusecs was released Tuesday morning.