Delhi sounds flood alert

NEW DELHI - A flood alert was sounded in the capital after two days of continuous rainfall led to rising water levels in the Yamuna and Haryana too released over four lakh cusecs of water into the river.

The Haryana government has released nearly 420,000 cusecs of water from Hathnikund barrage and it takes 36-72 hours for that water to reach the national capital. So the water level may cross the danger mark Saturday or Sunday, said a government official.

The level of water in the Yamuna reached 202 metres today. The danger level for the river is 204.83 metres. Fearing this, a warning was issued today for people living in low-lying areas (on the riverbanks) to evacuate, the official added.

Last year the water level had reached 206 metres at one point and people from slum clusters along the riverbank had to be evacuated.

The official said the government was prepared to tackle any situation this time around.

We have boats for rescue operations. Relief teams have been asked to inform people living near the Yamuna. Delhi has thousands of people living in low-lying areas and near the Yamuna, the official added.

Relief camps are also being set up in various areas. All the necessary arrangements have been taken care of, he said.