Yamuna Rises Sharply in Delhi, Set to Cross Danger Mark by Saturday Morning

The Yamuna river in Delhi surged more than a metre on Friday, reaching its highest level of the season and breaching the "warning mark" for the third time this year. Officials now expect the river to cross the "danger mark" of 205.3 metres by Saturday morning, raising concerns of potential flooding in low-lying areas.

By 8 p.m. on Friday, the river had already reached 205.25 metres — just 5 cm short of the danger level.

The sharp rise follows heavy rainfall in the river’s upper catchment areas and sustained high-volume discharges from the Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana. According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), the Yamuna, measured at the Old Railway Bridge, stood at 203.9 metres at 8 a.m., touched the warning level of 204.5 metres by noon, and climbed to 205.07 metres by 5 p.m. This surpasses the season’s previous peak of 205.15 metres, recorded on August 8.

CWC data revealed that the Hathnikund Barrage has been discharging water at over 40,000 cusecs per hour since 1 p.m. on Thursday, with a peak flow of 65,861 cusecs at 3 p.m. These discharges usually take about 48 hours to reach Delhi, indicating that the river level is likely to continue rising into Saturday.

“We’ve observed steady discharges in the 40,000 to 60,000 cusec range since Thursday afternoon, which are now impacting the water level in Delhi. At this pace, the river will likely cross the danger mark,” said Bhim Singh Rawat, associate coordinator at the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP).

In 2023, the Yamuna reached a historic high of 208.66 metres on July 11 after a record-breaking 359,760 cusecs were released from Hathnikund. Flows above 100,000 cusecs persisted for several days. By comparison, last year’s peak was a more modest 204.38 metres on September 26 — below even this year’s warning level.

The Flood and Irrigation Department has said evacuations from flood-prone areas will begin if the water reaches 206 metres. Authorities have already started issuing advisories in vulnerable neighborhoods, urging residents to move to safer ground.

Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma, who inspected preparations earlier this week, said a repeat of last year’s flooding is unlikely. “All ITO barrage gates are open, and we have comprehensive plans to relocate residents if necessary. Flood control teams, engineers, and relief workers are on high alert, working around the clock. We’re closely monitoring all barrages, regulators, pumping stations, and drainage systems, with backups in place,” Verma assured.

Residents in low-lying areas are advised to stay alert and follow official instructions as water levels continue to rise.