Monsoon LIVE Updates: Delhi’s Yamuna further swells, evacuation begins

After visiting Yamuna Bazar area, Delhi LG VK Saxena says, “…Waterlogging has become a yearly ritual. Sewage cleaning is not done, drain water is not treated properly. Due to all these things which have been not done for years, waterlogging occurs. Desilting of Yamuna should be done regularly. Najafgarh drain desilting should be done regularly. I will try to see to it that attention is paid to all this so that people don’t have to face this…Nature doesn’t inform us in advance, we have to be prepared for it.”

People wade through water in the Yamuna Bazar area near Old Yamuna Bridge. The area is flooded due to a rise in the water level of River Yamuna.

(ANI)

Chandigarh-Manali national highway closed following landslide near Six Mile area in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi.

Moderate rain has been forecast in Delhi on Tuesday with the minimum temperature settling at 24.4 degrees Celsius, three notches below normal.

The relative humidity at 8.30 am was recorded at 96 per cent, according to data shared by the India Meteorological Department.

Delhi had received torrential rains on Saturday and Sunday and recorded 107 mm of precipitation between 8.30 am on Sunday and 8:30 am on Monday. Commuters had to navigate through waterlogged roads and battle traffic snarls on Monday morning. The city received 8 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours ending at 8:30 am on Tuesday. The minimum temperature on Monday was recorded at 25.1 degrees Celsius, two notches below the season’s average.

(PTI)

The Amarnath Yatra was suspended for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday due to a closure of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway owing to the extensive damage caused to its Ramban section, leaving 15,000 pilgrims stranded in Jammu and at other places.

Authorities said incessant rains have caused unprecedented damage to the highway, especially the stretch falling in Ramban district, forcing its closure for traffic on Monday.

Despite the suspension of the yatra, the pilgrims remain undeterred and optimistic about visiting the Amarnath cave shrine, even if it means waiting for days.

(PTI)

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday issued an ‘orange alert’ in Delhi as the Yamuna River’s water level crossed the danger mark due to the incessant rainfall over the past few days. According to the Central Water Commission, the water level in the Yamuna River touched 206. 24 meters – slightly above the danger mark of 205.33 meters.

On Monday night, the water level of the Yamuna at the Old Railway Bridge was recorded at 206.04 mm. Notably, the high flood level is 207.49 meters, said officials.

Mandi in Himachal Pradesh faces a flood-like situation as river Beas swells due to incessant rainfall.

(ANI)

In an advisory issued by Delhi Police on Tuesday, it said, “Movement of traffic will remain restricted at Pragati Maidan tunnel due to waterlogging. Commuters are advised to plan their journey accordingly.”

Further, in another tweet, Delhi Police said, “Iron bridge pusta road Gandhi Nagar is closed for Public/Traffic till further orders due to dangerous level of water in Yamuna river. Commuters are advised to plan their journey accordingly.”

Three killed as several vehicles get buried under debris from rain-triggered landslide on Gangotri National Highway in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi.

(PTI)

As the district administration announced closure of NH-44 (Panipat-Jalandhar) or GT Road due to breach at a portion by overflowing Ghaggar river, traffic from Delhi towards Chandigarh or Delhi has been diverted before Ambala.

The Haryana Police has diverted traffic at Shahabad in Kurukshetra towards state highways and no vehicle is being allowed to move beyond Mohra village of Ambala. The traffic on Ambala-Chandigarh and Ambala-Ludhiana sections was being stopped as the Ghaggar water was coming on the main carriageway through agricultural fields making it unsafe for the commuting.

After visiting the affected spot near Shambhu toll plaza on Ambala-Patiala border, Deputy Commissioner Shaleen had announced temporary closure of highway Monday night.

HT Correspondent

Incessant rainfall for the past few days in Ambala leaves the residential areas of the city waterlogged as Ghaggar River swells and overflows.

(ANI)

All schools run, aided or recognised by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi will remain closed on July 11 in view of incessant rainfall in the national capital and the forecast of adverse weather conditions. The order was issued by the education department of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Monday evening as heavy rainfall disrupted the daily lives of residents, with severe waterlogging problems reported from various parts of the city.

The schools, however, will remain closed only for students and the department heads and teachers shall come to schools as usual, according to the order. All offices will also be functional.

The extreme rainfall that has ravaged Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi since Saturday will likely subside by Tuesday, although there will be rain over Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and eastern Rajasthan, the India Meteorological Department said on Monday. Extremely heavy rainfall is also likely over northeastern India and adjoining areas of eastern India in the next three days, the weather office said.

In the past two days, an interaction between a western disturbance and the monsoon trough led to extremely heavy rainfall over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Haryana, causing landslides, flooding and widespread damage, HT reported on Monday. The unusual interaction of a western disturbance with the monsoon trough can be devastating, as witnessed during the 2013 Uttarakhand floods.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami says, “Every year during monsoon, we have to face natural calamities. We get on alert mode as soon as this season comes…We have requested all Chardham Yatra pilgrims to be alert and initiate their Yatra only after taking note of the weather. Kanwar Yatra is also underway. It is raining at several locations and the Administration is monitoring it…”

(ANI)

There appears to be no immediate respite for Himachal Pradesh, which has been battered by rains over the last few days, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD issued “red” and “orange” alerts for several districts of the hill-state for the next 24 hours.

The water level of the Yamuna, which breached the danger mark of 205.33 metres earlier on Monday, triggering an Orange alert, was recorded at 206.24 on Tuesday, according to data shared by the Flood Control Department in the national capital.

Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Jairam Thakur said, “We have never seen this situation in past several years and we have very worried after seeing the situation of the state. Rise in water level is seen in several small and big rivers of the state. If the situation continues to be the same, there can be more damage.”

Heavy rainfall across the entire North Indian belt and especially in states such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Haryana not only affected normal life but also threw the travel plans of railway passengers haywire.