Yamunanagar: The Yamuna River, which had remained calm for about six weeks, increased on Saturday after heavy rains in the mountainous areas of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. As a precaution, all 18 gates of the Hathnikund barrage in Yamunnagar district were opened for the first time for this monsoon season, which issued a large scale discharge of 1,78,896 cusecs of water. The ongoing water is expected to reach the national capital Delhi within the next 30-48 hours, enhancing the river water level and there is a possible flood risk in the lower areas.
The Haryana Irrigation and Water Resources Department (IWRD) officials made a vigilant siren voice before opening the barrage gates and issued a warning to the residents and farmers to stay away from the riverbank and keep their livestock at a safe distance. The district administration, as well as the Delhi government, has also been informed about the situation.In Yamunnagar, Haryana IWRD Superintendent Engineer, RS Mittal said that due to heavy rains in hilly catchment areas, the water level increased rapidly, requiring release. Mittal said, “This is the first time in this season that all 18 gates of Harthanikund barrage have been opened. The supply to the canals has been discontinued to manage the increased flow.”According to the official classification, the discharge of more than one lakh cusecs is considered a low flood, 1.5 lakh cusecs are called moderate floods, and anything above 2.5 lakh cusecs is classified as high floods. The current release is already more than a low flood mark, the authorities are keeping a close watch on the situation.The water level in Yamuna increased continuously since Sunday morning. At 10 am, the flow was recorded at 74,304 cusecs, which became 81,353 cusecs at 11 am; 91,985 cusecs in the afternoon, and 1.16 lakh cusecs by 1 pm. By 3 pm, the discharge reached 1.78 lakh cusecs, the state IWRD official.Meanwhile, there are many other rivers and streams in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. The Sombi River, a tributary of the Yamuna River, which has a capacity of 10,000 cusecs, is currently carrying more than 23,000 water, threatening villages in its catchment areas. Local streams have also been swept away in Dhanura village and nearby Haripur Khol, which has increased the possibility of waterfall. In Ranjitpur, the bridge connecting Haryana to Himachal Pradesh was under pressure as the river water was washed away, causing concern among the residents.As the monsoon rains continue in the hills, the authorities are on high alert. Residents of weaker areas with Yamuna have been warned of potential floods in the form of Delhi braces to increase river levels in the next two days.
