| 10 July 2023
The national capital of India, Delhi, came to a grinding halt as torrential rains pounded the city for two consecutive days, resulting in severe waterlogging and disruption of daily life. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, facing mounting criticism, deflected blame and highlighted the city's inadequate water drainage system as the root cause of the crisis.
Kejriwal asserted that the city's infrastructure was ill-equipped to handle such unprecedented rainfall, causing major roads to be submerged, traffic to come to a standstill, and homes and businesses to be inundated. "This is not the time to point fingers at each other. The governments of all affected states need to work together to provide relief to the public," Kejriwal stated after presiding over a high-level meeting to assess the situation.
The deluge was attributed to a record-breaking rainfall of 153 mm received on July 8-9, as reported by the Safdarjung Observatory, the main weather station in Delhi. This figure marked the highest rainfall in a single day since July 25, 1982, when 169.9 mm of rain was recorded. In response to the alarming situation, the Delhi government issued a flood warning, closed all schools on Monday, and cancelled the Sunday leave of government officials, urging them to be present in the field.
The Central Water Commission (CWC) cautioned that the water level in the Yamuna River, which flows through Delhi, was rising rapidly and was expected to surpass the danger mark of 205.33 meters by Tuesday. This raised concerns for the approximately 37,000 residents living in low-lying areas near the river, which are prone to flooding. Officials have initiated evacuation measures for those residing in close proximity to the water, while monitoring the situation closely in case the rainfall persists.
To address public concerns, Kejriwal sought to allay fears of a flood-like situation in Delhi. He stated, "As per CWC, Yamuna river is flowing at 203.58 meters in Delhi. It is expected to reach 205.5 meters tomorrow morning. Also, according to weather predictions, the water level in Yamuna is not expected to rise too high. If Yamuna crosses the 206 meter mark, then we will start evacuation along the banks of the river."
Meanwhile, AAP minister Atishi conducted a survey of the Yamuna River to assess the escalating water levels. Accompanied by officials, Atishi inspected the river in a boat and emphasized that by Tuesday morning, the river was likely to cross the danger mark. "We are closely monitoring the flow of water in case the rains continue. Evacuation has already commenced for those living in immediate proximity to the water. Adequate arrangements have been made for their relocation," Atishi confirmed.
The situation in Delhi remains critical as the city battles the aftermath of torrential rains. With the Yamuna River nearing its danger mark and the threat of flooding looming, authorities and rescue teams are working tirelessly to mitigate the impact on vulnerable communities. As the rains persist, the onus falls on the government to address the longstanding issue of inadequate infrastructure and strengthen the city's water drainage system to prevent future crises of this magnitude.
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