Delhi's Kashmere Gate Bus Terminal Services Suspended as Yamuna River Floods

Delhi's primary inter-state bus terminal at Kashmere Gate had to suspend its services due to severe flooding caused by the rising water level of the Yamuna River. The record-high water level, which reached 208.62 meters (about 684.45 ft) after the discharge of water from Haryana's Hathini Kund barrage, is expected to recede to 208.45 meters (about 683.89 ft) by early Friday morning, as predicted by the Central Water Commission's Upper Yamuna Division's flood report.

As a result of the flooding, buses from other states are currently prohibited from entering the bus station. The Delhi Traffic Police have issued an advisory stating that inter-state buses from Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttarakhand will be redirected to stop at Singhu border instead of ISBT Kashmere Gate.

The rising water level of the Yamuna River has affected several low-lying areas, leading to waterlogging, traffic congestion, and water spilling onto roads. Majnu Ka Tila, Mayur Vihar Phase 1, Monastery Market, Geeta Colony, and several stretches of the Ring Road close to Kashmere Gate are some of the places affected by the severe rains.

In response to the situation, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed personnel to rescue people stranded in bungalows in Ram Kishore Road and Bela Road, located in the upscale Civil Lines neighborhood.

Delhi's Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena chaired a meeting attended by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Revenue Minister Atishi, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj, and senior officials from the police, NDRF, Central Water Commission (CWC), and India Meteorological Department.

Chief Minister Kejriwal highlighted the constant rise of the Yamuna's water level, which is flooding nearby roads, and urged residents in low-lying areas to evacuate immediately.

In response to the floods and ongoing heavy rainfall, Kejriwal ordered the closure of schools, colleges, and non-essential government offices until Sunday. The city has been dealing with severe waterlogging, collapsed houses, and an increase in incidents of falling trees.

Additionally, three water treatment plants in Wazirabad, Chandrawal, and Okhla have been closed due to the high-water level in the Yamuna River. The government has requested residents to conserve water and announced measures to rationalize the water supply to address the acute shortage. Kejriwal assured that the water treatment plants will resume operations once the Yamuna's water level recedes.