People wade through a submerged area using a boat amid rain as the river Yamuna crosses the danger mark following incessant rainfall at Yamuna Bazar in New Delhi on September 2, 2025.
| Photo Credit: ANI
The Delhi Government has taken several measures in the past six months to increase the carrying capacity of the Yamuna river, Delhi Irrigation and Flood Control (IFC) Minister Parvesh Verma said on Wednesday (September 3, 2025).
The Minister, who was on an inspection visit at the ITO barrage, assured people that there is no need to worry or panic over the rising Yamuna river levels, as the situation is under control.
“In the past six months, steps have been taken by different departments to increase the carrying capacity of the river. Currently, the situation is under control, and even if the level rises by one or two metres more, water will not enter Delhi roads like it did in 2023,” Mr. Verma told reporters.
The Yamuna river level was recorded at 206.83 metres at the Old Railway Bridge (ORB) on Wednesday (September 3, 2025) at 8 a.m. — above the evacuation mark of 206 metres.
As the water level rose, people living in low-lying areas were being evacuated by district authorities, and the ORB was closed for traffic.
“Yamuna river has not entered any authorised household. It is those who have constructed houses inside the floodplain, despite several warnings in the past. Our rescue teams are working. Even if the level touches 209 metres, no authorised area will be flooded. We are expecting the water level to start reducing by evening,” the Minister added.
According to the government, continuous 24×7 monitoring of water discharge from the three barrages — Hathnikund, Wazirabad, and Okhla — is being carried out.
As the river level is expected to rise further, authorities have issued a flood warning, forecasting the water level to reach around 206.90 metres.
The Yamuna River in Delhi had crossed the evacuation mark on Tuesday (September 2, 2025), as the water level was recorded at 206.03 metres and has been increasing since.
As the water level rose, people living in low-lying areas were being evacuated by district authorities, and the ORB was closed for traffic.
“The reason for the rising water level is mostly due to the high volumes of water released from the Wazirabad and Hathnikund barrages every hour. The forecast indicates a further increase in the water level,” an official from the Central Flood Control Room added.
The river received a discharge of 1.62 lakh cusecs from Hathnikund Barrage and 1.38 lakh cusecs from Wazirabad Barrage at 8 a.m.
Published – September 03, 2025 10:41 am IST
