Govt deploys 5.5 lakh sandbags, 58 boats, and 675 life jackets
3 September 2025, New Delhi
For the first time this monsoon, Delhi’s Yamuna River surpassed the 206-meter threshold on Tuesday night, raising concerns of flooding in the capital. Authorities quickly began evacuating people from low-lying areas and launched emergency measures to protect the city.
According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), the river’s level at the Old Railway Bridge was 206.3 metres at 8 pm, and it is likely to rise further to 206.9 metres by Wednesday morning. Officials have warned that the Yamuna could even cross the critical 207-metre danger mark, something that has happened only four times in the past 63 years. The most recent was in July 2023, when the river touched a record 208.66 metres and flooded large parts of Delhi.
The surge in water is linked to huge discharges from the Hathnikund barrage on the Haryana-Uttar Pradesh border. Continuous heavy rainfall in the Himalayas and northern India forced the barrage to release over 3.2 lakh cusecs of water on Monday morning, the highest so far this season. Since water released from Hathnikund takes about 36–48 hours to reach Delhi, Tuesday’s rise reflects Monday’s release. Officials warned that since the barrage is still releasing large amounts, the river may not recede until Thursday.
As part of safety measures, the Old Railway Bridge (Loha Pul) was closed to traffic, and four major drainage regulators were shut to stop backflow into the city’s drainage system. Experts have also cautioned that floodplain parks like Vasudev Ghat, Asita, Kalindi, and Mayur Vihar may go underwater if the river continues to rise.
Delhi’s Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma said the government is working on a “war footing.” All departments have been put on high alert, and district magistrates in flood-prone zones have been asked to prepare evacuation centres and relief camps.
The government has already arranged 5.5 lakh sandbags, 58 boats, 675 life jackets, pumps, and relief kits across 82 vulnerable areas. Teams of engineers and ground staff are working 24/7, and the Delhi Jal Board has staff stationed at all pumping stations to prevent waterlogging and sewer backflow. Authorities are keeping a close watch on water releases from Hathnikund, Wazirabad, and Okhla barrages, with hourly updates and real-time coordination to manage the threat.
