Water which had entered agriculture land and villages of Yamunanagar and Karnal districts has also receded
Farmers take a close look at the crops damaged by floods in Panipat district of Haryana on Sunday.
CHANDIGARH: The flood situation in Haryana has eased with the water level in the Yamuna going down, an official spokesman said here on Sunday.
He disclosed that the discharge at Hathni Kund Barrage was 52,380 cusecs at 12 noon and of this, 44,080 cusecs was flowing into the Yamuna while the Western Yamuna Canal was running with 6,500 cusecs discharge. No water was flowing in Som and Pathrala rivers, he added.
The water which had entered into agriculture land and villages of Yamunanagar and Karnal districts had also receded. Now water was standing in low-lying areas only.
Admitting that the receding water in the rivers had eroded the soil, he said the damage caused to the land would be assessed soon.
He further said that the length of the breach in Panipat district in the bund of the Yamuna between Tamsabad and Pathargarh villages was approximately 175 feet wide. Now the water was receding in Panipat district and the water which had entered the agriculture land through this breach had also flowed back into the river.
After crossing through Delhi on Saturday night, the peak water discharge had reached Faridabad and Palwal districts where the water level was constant in the river. It had touched the existing bunds along the river in Lalpur, Kiadawali, Dalelpur and Mahavatpur villages but no appreciable damage had been reported. All the river embankments were safe and water was passing smoothly, he claimed.
Nuh town and surrounding areas had been water-logged following 182 millimetres rainfall since last night. Water pumps had been installed at 61 sites for dewatering of rain water from populated areas.
The discharge in Markanda river had receded to 8,869 cusecs and no water was flowing in Tangri river while the discharge in Ghaggar river had been recorded at 26,440 cusecs at Guhla-Cheeka, 11,075 cusecs at Khanouri and 10,900 cusecs at Chandpur Siphon.
He further said that nine breaches had been caused at various sites of Markanda river bund in Sadiqpur, Shelia, Alapur, Harda Hardi, Charnel Majra, Hema Majra and Gallery villages. Moreover, 10 small relief cuts had been made by the farmers in Markanda river (left bund) between Shahabad and Jhansa villages to save their crops between creak and bund.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Yamuna rising; Capital faces flood threat (Hindu 09 September 2010)
‘A warning has been sounded and people have been evacuated from low-lying areas'
Already anxious over completion of work ahead of the upcoming Commonwealth Games, Delhi now has an overriding worry: rising waters of the Yamuna and imminent floods.
On Wednesday, as the quantum of water being released from the Hathni Kund barrage rose, the Delhi Administration began to brace itself up for a flood that is expected to be second only to the one in 1978 which is recorded as the worst in the city's history.
The amount of water released from Hathni Kund kept increasing from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m., and to the relief of the administration started subsiding after 5 p.m.
But experts cautioned that unless the waters in the Yamuna start receding overnight and rain in the upper reaches stops, the Capital will witness a flood.
“We are watching the situation. A lot of water has been released. At 4 p.m., 607,076 cusecs was released and this will take between 48 to 60 hours to reach Delhi. And yes, there is a flood threat,” said a senior official of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department of the Delhi Government.
In 1978, over seven lakh cusec of water was released into the Yamuna, as a consequence of which there was a severe flood that the city continues to recall even after three decades.
“This time the quantum of water released is less, but it is a red flag for the city,” said Manoj Misra, convenor of the non-government organisation Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan.
Delhi Government officials said as per the forecast issued by the Central Water Commission, the level of the river is expected to rise to 204.83 metres, which is also the danger mark.
“At 4 p.m. the water level in the river had reached 204.12 metres and by 8 p.m. on Thursday it is expected to touch 204.83 metres. A warning has already been sounded and people have been evacuated from the low lying areas,” an official said.
On Wednesday the water being released from the Hathni Kund barrage kept increasing hourly.
At 5 a.m., 62,000 cusecs was released; this rose to 92,000 cusecs at 6 a.m.; and by 11 a.m. it was 519,000 cusecs.
Dismissing fears that the city can get under water, the official said: “The flooding will occur in the floodplains. We will maintain a strict vigil over the embankments and check them for breaches. There is no threat of the flood waters entering the city and there is no connection between the water logging that happens on the roads and the rising levels of the Yamuna, because the sluice gates are kept shut at the major drains.”
On what the administration will do to check the flood, the official said: “We will increase patrolling and enhance the pumping arrangements. If the level of the river keeps rising we will have to pump out the water from the local catchment areas and for that the pumping arrangements will have to be in place.”
Referring to fears that the flood waters can inundate the multi-crore Commonwealth Games Village and the adjoining Akshardham Temple, the official said: “These structures have been built after considerable study and research. As on date we foresee no threat to these structures.”
According to officials, the places that will bear the brunt of the flood are the low-lying areas of Garhi Mandu, Usmanpur, Batla House, Majnu Ka Tila, low-lying areas around Ring Road, ISBT, Yamuna Bazar and Qudesia Ghat.
“The amount of water that has been discharged means that the river will cross the 206-metre mark at Old Railway Bridge and even reach catastrophic 207-metre mark. While the 206-metre mark has been crossed several times including in 1988 and 1995 recently, the 207.49 metre mark was crossed in 1978 when the city witnessed the worst flood,” said Mr. Misra, adding: “Delhiites can only keep their fingers crossed and hope for the best.”
Already anxious over completion of work ahead of the upcoming Commonwealth Games, Delhi now has an overriding worry: rising waters of the Yamuna and imminent floods.
On Wednesday, as the quantum of water being released from the Hathni Kund barrage rose, the Delhi Administration began to brace itself up for a flood that is expected to be second only to the one in 1978 which is recorded as the worst in the city's history.
The amount of water released from Hathni Kund kept increasing from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m., and to the relief of the administration started subsiding after 5 p.m.
But experts cautioned that unless the waters in the Yamuna start receding overnight and rain in the upper reaches stops, the Capital will witness a flood.
“We are watching the situation. A lot of water has been released. At 4 p.m., 607,076 cusecs was released and this will take between 48 to 60 hours to reach Delhi. And yes, there is a flood threat,” said a senior official of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department of the Delhi Government.
In 1978, over seven lakh cusec of water was released into the Yamuna, as a consequence of which there was a severe flood that the city continues to recall even after three decades.
“This time the quantum of water released is less, but it is a red flag for the city,” said Manoj Misra, convenor of the non-government organisation Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan.
Delhi Government officials said as per the forecast issued by the Central Water Commission, the level of the river is expected to rise to 204.83 metres, which is also the danger mark.
“At 4 p.m. the water level in the river had reached 204.12 metres and by 8 p.m. on Thursday it is expected to touch 204.83 metres. A warning has already been sounded and people have been evacuated from the low lying areas,” an official said.
On Wednesday the water being released from the Hathni Kund barrage kept increasing hourly.
At 5 a.m., 62,000 cusecs was released; this rose to 92,000 cusecs at 6 a.m.; and by 11 a.m. it was 519,000 cusecs.
Dismissing fears that the city can get under water, the official said: “The flooding will occur in the floodplains. We will maintain a strict vigil over the embankments and check them for breaches. There is no threat of the flood waters entering the city and there is no connection between the water logging that happens on the roads and the rising levels of the Yamuna, because the sluice gates are kept shut at the major drains.”
On what the administration will do to check the flood, the official said: “We will increase patrolling and enhance the pumping arrangements. If the level of the river keeps rising we will have to pump out the water from the local catchment areas and for that the pumping arrangements will have to be in place.”
Referring to fears that the flood waters can inundate the multi-crore Commonwealth Games Village and the adjoining Akshardham Temple, the official said: “These structures have been built after considerable study and research. As on date we foresee no threat to these structures.”
According to officials, the places that will bear the brunt of the flood are the low-lying areas of Garhi Mandu, Usmanpur, Batla House, Majnu Ka Tila, low-lying areas around Ring Road, ISBT, Yamuna Bazar and Qudesia Ghat.
“The amount of water that has been discharged means that the river will cross the 206-metre mark at Old Railway Bridge and even reach catastrophic 207-metre mark. While the 206-metre mark has been crossed several times including in 1988 and 1995 recently, the 207.49 metre mark was crossed in 1978 when the city witnessed the worst flood,” said Mr. Misra, adding: “Delhiites can only keep their fingers crossed and hope for the best.”
Flood alert in many Haryana districts (Hindu 09 September 2010)
Heavy rainfall in Himachal, Uttarakhand, U.P
The Haryana Government on Wednesday alerted the district administrations of Yamunanagar, Ambala, Karnal, Kurukshetra and Sonepat about flood threat.
Chief Secretary Urvashi Gulati said the alert had been sounded in view of heavy rainfall in the upper reaches of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh since Tuesday and the resultant increase in the flow of water in the Yamuna, Som and Pathrala rivers.
She also directed the Sonepat district authorities to get Hasanpur and Manauli Tonki villages vacated as a preventive measure.
Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary (Irrigation) S. S. Dhillon said the Delhi Government had been alerted that more water was expected to reach the national Capital in the next 48 hours because of increased flow of water in the Yamuna.
He said the district administrations of Faridabad and Palwal had been directed to take effective measures. The Ambala district authorities have also alerted the Army and the National Disaster Response Force.
The Yamuna had a flow of 6.86 lakh cusecs at 5 p.m. whereas the Som and Pathrala were having a flow of one lakh cusecs each.
Bilaspur in Yamunanagar district had recorded 310 mm of rain on Wednesday due to which the flow of water had increased in the Yamuna. The Yamunanagar district administration has urged the people to keep their children away from the river and asked the panchayats to remain in touch.
The Chharauli-Poanta Sahib National Highway No.73 A had been closed to traffic, he added.
Delhi alerted on more water flow into the Yamuna
Two villages in Sonepat to be evacuated
The Haryana Government on Wednesday alerted the district administrations of Yamunanagar, Ambala, Karnal, Kurukshetra and Sonepat about flood threat.
Chief Secretary Urvashi Gulati said the alert had been sounded in view of heavy rainfall in the upper reaches of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh since Tuesday and the resultant increase in the flow of water in the Yamuna, Som and Pathrala rivers.
She also directed the Sonepat district authorities to get Hasanpur and Manauli Tonki villages vacated as a preventive measure.
Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary (Irrigation) S. S. Dhillon said the Delhi Government had been alerted that more water was expected to reach the national Capital in the next 48 hours because of increased flow of water in the Yamuna.
He said the district administrations of Faridabad and Palwal had been directed to take effective measures. The Ambala district authorities have also alerted the Army and the National Disaster Response Force.
The Yamuna had a flow of 6.86 lakh cusecs at 5 p.m. whereas the Som and Pathrala were having a flow of one lakh cusecs each.
Bilaspur in Yamunanagar district had recorded 310 mm of rain on Wednesday due to which the flow of water had increased in the Yamuna. The Yamunanagar district administration has urged the people to keep their children away from the river and asked the panchayats to remain in touch.
The Chharauli-Poanta Sahib National Highway No.73 A had been closed to traffic, he added.
Delhi alerted on more water flow into the Yamuna
Two villages in Sonepat to be evacuated
'There's no danger of flood hitting Delhi' (Times of India 11 Srptember 2010)
The Yamuna continued to flow above the danger mark for the second day in a row on Thursday. The water level on Thursday night was recorded at 206.11 meters—1.28 meters above the danger mark. With the threat of a flood looming large, the Old Yamuna Bridge was closed for traffic on Thursday afternoon and routes of more than 20 trains were altered
Authorities, however, maintained the situation was under control and that there was no danger of flood hitting Delhi.
Delhi Irrigation and Flood Control Minister, Rajkumar Chauhan, said everything was under control and asked people not to panic. He added that there was no danger of flood in Delhi.
"The water is expected to reach a level of 206.65 meters by 11 am tomorrow after which it will increase further. We are all prepared and there shouldn't be any problem. The department has tackled worse situations in the past," said Ish Kumar, chief engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control Department.
Officials hope the coming days remain rain free so that water logging is eased around the city. "It will be a great relief for us if there is no rain on Saturday and Sunday otherwise we will have to carry out large-scale water pumping in areas like Jehangirpuri," Kumar added.
But the Met department has not predicted any relief for Saturday. "There will be a partly cloudy sky with possibility of rain and thundershowers on Saturday," said the weatherman.
Flood Control Department officials added that the intensity of water flow is lower this year, as it has already breached the riverbanks in various parts of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. "Since the rate of flow is slow, the water will also take a longer time to recede. It may take more than a week for the water levels to go back below the danger mark of 204.83 meters," Kumar said.
Authorities, however, maintained the situation was under control and that there was no danger of flood hitting Delhi.
Delhi Irrigation and Flood Control Minister, Rajkumar Chauhan, said everything was under control and asked people not to panic. He added that there was no danger of flood in Delhi.
"The water is expected to reach a level of 206.65 meters by 11 am tomorrow after which it will increase further. We are all prepared and there shouldn't be any problem. The department has tackled worse situations in the past," said Ish Kumar, chief engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control Department.
Officials hope the coming days remain rain free so that water logging is eased around the city. "It will be a great relief for us if there is no rain on Saturday and Sunday otherwise we will have to carry out large-scale water pumping in areas like Jehangirpuri," Kumar added.
But the Met department has not predicted any relief for Saturday. "There will be a partly cloudy sky with possibility of rain and thundershowers on Saturday," said the weatherman.
Flood Control Department officials added that the intensity of water flow is lower this year, as it has already breached the riverbanks in various parts of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. "Since the rate of flow is slow, the water will also take a longer time to recede. It may take more than a week for the water levels to go back below the danger mark of 204.83 meters," Kumar said.
Yamuna above danger mark, but nothing to fear (Indian Express 10 September 2010)
The Yamuna is swelling up again. While 6.07 lakh cusecs of water was released from the Hathnikund barrage and was headed for Delhi, the Som river in the passage of Yamuna to Delhi is also carrying over 1 lakh cusecs of water. The water is likely to reach Delhi by 4 pm on Friday, and the river level is likely to touch the mark of 206.35 metres, 1.52 metres above the danger mark.
This water level will be a 32-year record. In 1978, when seven lakh cusecs of water was released into the river, the low-lying areas of Delhi had flooded, together with localities in North and East Delhi close to the river's floodplains. That year also saw the highest ever water level at 207.49 metres.
"The river flowed 23 cm above the danger level at 205.06 metres on Thursday evening. The water flow in the river is showing a rising trend, which would continue for the next three days before becoming constant. The river is likely to touch the mark of 206.35 metres by 4 pm on Friday," said V P S Tomar, Chief Engineer of the Flood Control Department.
Tomar, however, added that there was no need to panic or fear. "The flood-prone areas were evacuated in August-end itself when the Yamuna levels were rising, and the residents from these areas are already staying in camps. The department is maintaining a strict vigil to ensure nobody goes back to the affected areas," he said.
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said all measures have been taken to deal with the "serious" situation.
This water level will be a 32-year record. In 1978, when seven lakh cusecs of water was released into the river, the low-lying areas of Delhi had flooded, together with localities in North and East Delhi close to the river's floodplains. That year also saw the highest ever water level at 207.49 metres.
"The river flowed 23 cm above the danger level at 205.06 metres on Thursday evening. The water flow in the river is showing a rising trend, which would continue for the next three days before becoming constant. The river is likely to touch the mark of 206.35 metres by 4 pm on Friday," said V P S Tomar, Chief Engineer of the Flood Control Department.
Tomar, however, added that there was no need to panic or fear. "The flood-prone areas were evacuated in August-end itself when the Yamuna levels were rising, and the residents from these areas are already staying in camps. The department is maintaining a strict vigil to ensure nobody goes back to the affected areas," he said.
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said all measures have been taken to deal with the "serious" situation.
Yamuna crosses the danger mark; Delhi may witness 1978 type floods (Hindi 10 September 2010)
River in a menacing mood, might soar to its highest level around noon today
People living in low-lying areas asked to vacate and take shelter in high places
Delhi Government has made adequate arrangements to tackle situation: Minister
WATER OVER BRIDGE: Commuters negotiate a water-logged Old Yamuna Bridge in Delhi on Thursday.
NEW DELHI: For the second time this season, the Yamuna breached the danger level of 204.83 metres at the Old Railway Bridge in the Capital on Thursday afternoon after about 7 lakh cusecs of water was released upstream from Hathani Kund barrage in Haryana.
With excessive amount of water released by Haryana between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Wednesday, experts believe that Delhi would witness the highest flood level of around 207 metres past noon this Friday.
While the river had flowed over the danger mark for over a week this past month and hovered around the 206-metre mark before receding, it has risen much more menacingly now and is expected to go even a metre higher, flooding vast stretches of land and low-lying areas.
With the river rising continuously, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit held a review meeting with officials of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department at her residence on Thursday morning. Later Delhi Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan convened an urgent high-level meeting to review the situation arising out of the release of water from Hathani Kund barrage in Haryana and the rapid rise in the level of the Yamuna in Delhi.
Mr. Chauhan informed that as per information received from the Central Water Commission the level of the Yamuna might reach a record level of 206.90 metres on Friday and stay around that level.
Release of a similar quantity of water from the barrage in 1978 had led to massive flooding in Delhi when the level of the Yamuna had touched 207.49 metres.
Mr. Chauhan, however, assured that the situation is very different this time round. He said the Delhi Government had made adequate arrangements should the Yamuna bank or nearby low-lying areas get flooded.
The Minister also appealed to the people living in low-laying areas to vacate and take shelter on high places.
He said the Irrigation and Flood Control Department officials have been issuing continuous warnings to people residing in low laying areas to vacate and shift to safer locations. “The situation is being monitored round the clock through a control room set up by Deputy Commissioner (East),'' he said.
The Minister said the Irrigation and Flood Control Department has also readied 85,850 empty cement bags, 3,582 cubic metres of stone, 5,275 wooden ‘balli', 2,700 iron mesh or ‘jali', 11 trucks, 422 life jackets and 45 specialised search lights to meet any eventuality.
Besides, he added, 90 big and small pumps have been installed at different locations to pump out water from low-lying areas like Ring Road, Okhla, Majnu Ka Tila, Burari, Batala House and Jahangirpuri.
Stating that 74 boats and 68 divers have been placed on stand-by along with a team of the National Disaster Relief Force, the Minister said the Chief Engineer of the Flood Control Department has also been directed to keep adequate staff ready to deal with any breach on the bunds along the river.
People living in low-lying areas asked to vacate and take shelter in high places
Delhi Government has made adequate arrangements to tackle situation: Minister
WATER OVER BRIDGE: Commuters negotiate a water-logged Old Yamuna Bridge in Delhi on Thursday.
NEW DELHI: For the second time this season, the Yamuna breached the danger level of 204.83 metres at the Old Railway Bridge in the Capital on Thursday afternoon after about 7 lakh cusecs of water was released upstream from Hathani Kund barrage in Haryana.
With excessive amount of water released by Haryana between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Wednesday, experts believe that Delhi would witness the highest flood level of around 207 metres past noon this Friday.
While the river had flowed over the danger mark for over a week this past month and hovered around the 206-metre mark before receding, it has risen much more menacingly now and is expected to go even a metre higher, flooding vast stretches of land and low-lying areas.
With the river rising continuously, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit held a review meeting with officials of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department at her residence on Thursday morning. Later Delhi Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan convened an urgent high-level meeting to review the situation arising out of the release of water from Hathani Kund barrage in Haryana and the rapid rise in the level of the Yamuna in Delhi.
Mr. Chauhan informed that as per information received from the Central Water Commission the level of the Yamuna might reach a record level of 206.90 metres on Friday and stay around that level.
Release of a similar quantity of water from the barrage in 1978 had led to massive flooding in Delhi when the level of the Yamuna had touched 207.49 metres.
Mr. Chauhan, however, assured that the situation is very different this time round. He said the Delhi Government had made adequate arrangements should the Yamuna bank or nearby low-lying areas get flooded.
The Minister also appealed to the people living in low-laying areas to vacate and take shelter on high places.
He said the Irrigation and Flood Control Department officials have been issuing continuous warnings to people residing in low laying areas to vacate and shift to safer locations. “The situation is being monitored round the clock through a control room set up by Deputy Commissioner (East),'' he said.
The Minister said the Irrigation and Flood Control Department has also readied 85,850 empty cement bags, 3,582 cubic metres of stone, 5,275 wooden ‘balli', 2,700 iron mesh or ‘jali', 11 trucks, 422 life jackets and 45 specialised search lights to meet any eventuality.
Besides, he added, 90 big and small pumps have been installed at different locations to pump out water from low-lying areas like Ring Road, Okhla, Majnu Ka Tila, Burari, Batala House and Jahangirpuri.
Stating that 74 boats and 68 divers have been placed on stand-by along with a team of the National Disaster Relief Force, the Minister said the Chief Engineer of the Flood Control Department has also been directed to keep adequate staff ready to deal with any breach on the bunds along the river.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)