CHANDIGARH: A high alert in Yamunanagar district of Haryana has been issued as the water level in the Yamuna river reached 6.05 lakh cusecs due to heavy rains in both Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Also, excess water has been released from Hathnikund barrage in Haryana into the Yamuna river thus posing a flood threat to New Delhi.
Sources said that over 5,03,935 lakh cusecs of water were released into the Yamuna from the Hathnikund barrage which provides drinking water to New Delhi. The water level at the barrage along the Haryana-Uttarakhand border rose to high levels due to heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The water level in the Yamuna crossed the danger level.
The villages along the Yamuna had been alerted about the release of the excess water. The Yamuna river passes through Yamunanagar, Karnal and Panipat districts in Haryana before entering New Delhi.
#Visuals: At 11 am today, 3,11,190 cusec of water was released from Haryana's Hathini Kund Barrage. pic.twitter.com/9wwdFlcjkQ
The water released from Hathnikund will reach Delhi in 65 to 70 hours. Yamunanagar Deputy Commissioner Girish Arora announced a high alert in the district after the water level crossed the 6.05 lakh cusecs mark.
“We have put over 70 villages in the district on alert. We have already alerted the Karnal, Panipat and Sonepat districts administrations besides the Delhi Government about the increase in water level,” he said.
Arora said that they have informed the army and air force and have put both the army and air force on alert. A team of National Disaster Management Authority comprising 46 personnel had already reached Yamunanagar.
He said that till now there was no report of any damage to property or a loss of life in the district. Seven villages (Lapra, Bibipur, Odri, Kalanaur, Mandauli, Gagar and Mali Majra) have been identified in the district where floodwater might enter after the water level crossed the 3 lakh cusecs mark.
A flood is announced when the water level touches the 2.5 lakh cusecs mark in the barrage. The district administration has also set up a flood control office in the mini-secretariat and at all blocks in the district besides launching a helpline number for an immediate response. The administration has issued a warning asking people not to venture near the river, canal and drains.
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