The rising Yamuna flooded several parts of the capital on Saturday as the water level climbed two metres above the danger mark, threatening to submerge more low-lying areas.
The water level in the river rose to 206.70 metre at 12:30 pm, 1.87 metre above the danger mark of 204.83 metre and is likely to go up further as neighbouring Haryana would release more water in the river, a senior official of the flood control department said.
Haryana is expected to release 30,000 cusecs of water in to the Yamuna on Saturday. Authorities said the water level in the river is expected to rise to 206.85 metre by 2 pm.
Some low-lying areas near the river, including Garhi Mandu, Usmanpur Pusta, Jagatpur Village and Shastri Nagar, were inundated by the rising water. Areas near the ISBT were also flooded, prompting thousands of people to stake shelter in government relief camps and in higher areas.
Flood water also entered areas like Yamuna Vihar, Usmanpur, Madanpur, Sonia Vihar, Nigambodh, Jaitpur, Tibet Market and Yamuna Bazar. Many people living in low-lying areas along the banks of the river were seen lined up on the footpaths on the ITO bridge with whatever was left of their belongings.
Chief minister Sheila Dikshit had on Friday appealed to people not to panic and said all precautionary measures are being put into place to meet any eventuality.
"There is no need to worry. We are taking all precautionary measures to deal with any eventuality. The situation is under control," Ms Dikshit had said. Authorities had on Friday evacuated hundreds of people living in the low-lying areas. Seventy-four boats and 68 divers have also been pressed into service.
Over 100 personnel from National Disaster Response Force, have been deployed to assist the local authorities. The rising Yamuna has forced the Northern Railways to cancel 25 trains and diverted 36 others.
The trains diverted include Kalka Mail, Shaheed Express, Garib Nawaz Express, Awadh Assam Express, Shalimar Express and Brahmaputra Mail. As many as 39 trains including Satygraha Express, Lal Quila Express, Farakka and Howrah Janata Express have been short terminated, according to a Northern Railway spokesperson.