Rain fury: Yamuna river reaches 10-year high, widespread devastation reported
New Delhi, July 12: Torrential rains persist for the fourth consecutive day, causing widespread devastation, landslides, and loss of life across north India. Dramatic scenes of collapsing bridges, cascading boulders, and vehicles engulfed by raging floodwaters portray the magnitude of the destruction. Himachal Pradesh bears the brunt of the calamity, with roads transformed into rivers and rivers morphed into turbulent seas, washing away cars, houses, and bridges.
The death toll in Himachal Pradesh rises to 31, while Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan each report one rain-related fatality. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu conducts an aerial survey of severely affected areas such as Kasol, Manikaran, Kheer Ganga, and Pulga. In Kullu's Sainj region alone, approximately 40 shops and 30 houses are swept away. The estimated infrastructure loss in the state ranges between ₹3,000 crore and ₹4,000 crore.
Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan have experienced incessant "heavy to extremely heavy" rainfall over the past four days, leading to widespread flooding of rivers, streams, and drains. Essential services have been severely disrupted, and infrastructure extensively damaged in these states.
The meteorological department has issued a red alert for Himachal Pradesh and three districts in Uttarakhand today. Authorities in Uttarakhand have advised people to refrain from traveling to the state until Thursday.
In the national capital, the Yamuna River reaches its highest recorded water level in the past 10 years and is expected to rise further. The Central Water Commission's flood-monitoring portal indicates that the water level at the Old Railway Bridge in New Delhi exceeded 207 meters at 5 am on Wednesday. The surge is a consequence of Haryana releasing additional water into the river from the Hathnikund barrage.
Delhi has witnessed a rapid escalation in the Yamuna water level over the past two days. It surged from 203.14 meters at 11 am on Sunday to 205.4 meters at 5 pm on Monday, breaching the danger mark of 205.33 meters 18 hours earlier than anticipated.
To tackle the crisis, sixteen control rooms have been established to monitor flood-prone areas and the water level of the Yamuna River. Over 50 motorboats have been deployed for rescue and relief operations, while diving and medical teams stand prepared with essential supplies and equipment.
- With inputs from agencies
