Rains lash N. India, raging Yamuna nears all-time record level in Delhi

Agencies

New Delhi: As North India continued to be devastated by heavy rains and the consequent floods, the Yamuna river in Delhi swelled to 207.25 metres and was flowing precariously close to the all-time record level of 207.49 metres reached in 1978, government agencies said on Wednesday.

According to the Central Water Commission's (CWC) flood-monitoring portal, the water level at the Old Railway Bridge crossed the 207-metre mark at 4 am, the first time since 2013, and rose to 207.25 metres by 8 am on Wednesday.

It is expected that the river will rise to 207.35 metres by Wednesday and continue to rise further. An official explained that the sharp rise was due to continuous rainfall in the upper catchment areas and saturated soil from heavy precipitation in Delhi and nearby regions. People living in low-lying areas have been shifted to safer places.