Delhi-NCR rain fury: Yamuna above danger mark, evacuations on; Gurgaon schools, offices shut after heavy downpour

NEW DELHI: The water level of the Yamuna river rose to 205.75 metres at Delhi’s Old Railway Bridge on Tuesday morning, crossing the danger mark of 205.33 metres.

Officials warned that the river could touch the evacuation level of 206 metres by evening, posing a serious flood threat to low-lying areas.


The rise follows record discharges from the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana over 3.23 lakh cusecs by Monday noon, along with additional inflows from the Wazirabad and Okhla barrages.


The old railway bridge has been closed and evacuations have begun in parts of Mayur Vihar, Yamuna Bazar, and under the bridge. Camps are being set up with food and relief support.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta assured that the government is prepared, noting that desilting of the river and drains had been carried out over the past six months. Irrigation minister Pravesh Sahib Singh added that all barrage gates are open to ensure smooth flow and urged residents not to panic.

Rain brings traffic chaos in Delhi
Monday’s downpour led to massive traffic snarls across the capital. Motorists reported long delays at Qutub Minar, Kashmere Gate, Mehrauli, and Saket, with many vehicles forced to halt during the heaviest spells.



Commuters posted their grievances online, citing jammed underpasses and stalled ambulances. One car owner heading to Max Hospital in Saket wrote, “An ambulance was struggling to get through for over 30 minutes on a short stretch. Delhi is a mess in the monsoon.”

The rain pulled the maximum temperature down to 30.8°C, with humidity hovering between 85% and 100%.

There are chances of very light to light rain over the next few days. No colour-coded warning has been issued for the next five days.
Gurgaon paralysed after 100mm rain in 5 hours
Neighbouring Gurgaon came to a standstill after receiving 100mm of rainfall between 3pm and 8pm on Monday.

The downpour submerged roads under two to three feet of water, triggering a 4km traffic jam from Hero Honda Chowk to Narsingpur on NH-8.



Traffic police received over 200 distress calls, with at least 25 breakdowns reported, including a bus stranded near Jharsa.

Waterlogging left commuters stranded and forced two-wheeler riders to wade through strong currents. Key stretches like Rajeev Chowk, IFFCO Chowk, Subhash Chowk, Golf Course Road, and Vatika Chowk were among the worst hit.



In view of the orange alert for more heavy rain on Tuesday, the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) directed all schools to shift to online classes and private offices to adopt work-from-home. Emergency services remain on standby, while residents have been advised to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.

(With agency inputs)