Heavy rains lashing the national capital over the last few weeks has brought Delhi to its knees. With the threat of floods looming large due to a swollen Yamuna river crossing the danger mark, authorities, on Saturday, began evacuating hundreds of people affected by the rising water level.
The river water level rose as heavy rains continued in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, with authorities releasing more water at Haryana's Hathnikund barrage during the day.
The Yamuna in Delhi was flowing above the danger mark at 205.06 meters by 10 am, an Irrigation and Flood Control Department official told IANS. Nodal officer (Preet Vihar) Arun Gupta said:
Over 10,000 persons have been affected. People earlier living on the river bed and low-lying areas are being shifted out.
The officer cautioned that the Yamuna water level is expected to go up by Saturday night.
"On Saturday morning, over 200,000 cusecs was released into the Yamuna from the barrage -- which provides drinking water to New Delhi," an official told IANS in Chandigarh.
The official said that residents of villages along the Yamuna river have been alerted on the release of excess water.
Water at the Hathnikund barrage along the Haryana-Uttarakhand border had risen to alarming levels owing to overnight downpour in catchment states, making authorities release the extra water.
The Yamuna passes through Yamunanagar, Karnal and Panipat districts in Haryana before entering New Delhi. The Met Department predicted hill states in Haryana's neighbourhood will continue to experience heavy rains.
Meanwhile, the national capital has been crippled by the heavy downpour that resulted in waterlogging various parts of the city. From floods underpasses to stranded ambulances, Delhi is experiencing the brunt of what seems to be a combination of bad infrastructure and a lackadaisical government in an overwhelming monsoon this year.
Delhi rains in photos:
A bus is seen submerged under Minto bridge as Indian youths walk along a water-logged road during heavy monsoon rain in New Delhi on July 16, 2018.PRAKASH SINGH/AFP/Getty Images 
Many were left stranded as the water-logging left many vehicles submerged vehicles along a water-logged road under Minto bridge during heavy monsoon rain in New Delhi on July 16, 2018.SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images 
People try to push an ambulance along a water-logged road during heavy monsoon rain in New Delhi on July 16, 2018.SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images 
Indian people push their vehicle along a water-logged road during heavy monsoon rain as a bus is submerged in New Delhi on July 16, 2018.SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images 
Commuters make their way on a water-logged street during a heavy monsoon downpour in New Delhi on July 5, 2018.PRAKASH SINGH/AFP/Getty Images 
Children, holding bunches of pens to sell, run through a water-logged street during the heavy monsoon rains in New Delhi on July 5, 2018.DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images
