Yamuna recedes after crossing danger mark in Delhi

Yamuna's water level in Delhi dropped Wed. after crossing danger mark of 205.33m on Tues. due to rain in upper catchment areas. 56 killed in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand ravaged by rain. In July, Delhi faced unprecedented flooding due to heavy rainfall, Yamuna swelled to 208.66m. Encroachments on floodplain, extreme rain & silt accumulation caused flooding. 41,000 people in low-lying areas near river prone to floods. East Delhi most affected.

The Yamuna's water level in Delhi followed a downward trend Wednesday, August 16 morning after the river crossed the danger mark of 205.33 metres for a brief period on Tuesday following torrential rain in the river's upper catchment areas over the past two days.

According to the Central Water Commission's (CWC) website, the water level at the Old Railway Bridge stood at 205.14 metres at 8 am on Wednesday.

It had crossed the warning mark of 204.5 metres at 3 pm on Tuesday and rapidly rose to 205.39 metres at 10 pm.

"The river may not swell to the evacuation level of 206.00 metres in Delhi unless the hilly region receives more rain," a CWC official said.

Delhi recorded light rain on Wednesday and dry conditions are predicted over the next few days.

At least 56 people have been killed in Himachal Pradesh as rain wreaked havoc in the hill state since Sunday.

Torrential rain also ravaged Uttarakhand over the past two days, destroying buildings and causing landslides that breached the national highways to Badrinath, Kedarnath and Gangotri shrines.