Evacuations continue, educational institutions shut as main river swells in Indian capital

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) — Evacuations are underway in low-lying areas around India's capital New Delhi as the Yamuna River, which runs through the city, continues rising past levels unseen in decades.

"All government and private schools are being closed in the areas of Delhi where water is filling up," Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the top elected official in Delhi, said on Thursday as authorities evacuate residents living close to the river.

The water level of the Yamuna River is at an all-time high, breaching the record 1978 level of more than 207 meters (over 680 feet) following intense monsoon rainfall that hit northern India last week.

Thousands have been evacuated and efforts continue to clear residents from affected areas, according to officials.

India's National Disaster Response Force said they also conducted night rescue operations close to the Yamuna River.

Kejriwal also said on Thursday that three water treatment plants had to be closed due to the rising river level, adding that this would cause water problems parts of Delhi.

"As soon as the Yamuna water recedes, we will try to start them as soon as possible," he said.

While Delhi received no major rainfall over the last two days, Kejriwal said, water levels are rising due to abnormally high volumes" of water being released at Hathnikund dam in neighboring Haryana state.

Kejriwal on Wednesday had asked residents of the low-lying areas to leave their homes. The government has set up relief camps for affected people.

Several streets, offices, and other buildings in these areas have been inundated.

On Thursday, Delhi traffic police said that due to the rise in the water level and consequent flooding, "traffic movement is diverted on some roads."

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation tweeted Thursday that while services remained on track on all lines, trains passing on the four bridges spanning the Yanuna River had been slowed to 30 kilometers per hour (18.6 miles per hour) "as a precautionary measure."

Schools colleges, and universities in the capital are to remain closed until Sunday, Kejriwal said, according to a later statement following a meeting of the Delhi's disaster management agency.

It added that government offices, except those providing essential services, would have to work remotely and urged private offices to do the same.

The statement also said more than 20,000 people had been shifted to relief camps. Kejriwal noted that about 50 boats were currently in service, with more to be deployed if needed.

The Delhi government has also said only large vehicles for essential services would be allowed to enter Delhi and that 25% of the water supply had been affected due to flooding at water plants.

- Death toll tops 100

Over 100 people have died since last week in northern India due to rain-related incidents, with the Himalayan Himachal Pradesh state worst affected, officials said.

Large-scale evacuations are taking place in Himachal Pradesh, a popular tourist destination, with the authorities stating that as of Thursday morning, a total of 60,000 stranded tourists had been successfully evacuated.

The Indian Air Force is involved in the rescue efforts in remote areas, officials have said.

Praveen Bhardwaj, a state disaster management official, told Anadolu that the death toll had reached 37 since last week, while the total number of deaths this season in the state stood at 88. The fatalities were due to road accidents, flash floods, and landslides.

Last weekend, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat received heavy rainfall, causing flash floods in several places, inundating streets, and disrupting daily life.

Almost all the states have reported rain-related deaths in the last few days.