Schools shut, water shortage: How floods are affecting Delhi

The Yamuna River in Delhi reached a 45-year peak on July 13 as the national capital faced severe waterlogging, with people being displaced from their homes. The Yamuna water level touched 208.53 metres at 10 am, breaking a 45-year-old record, officials said. Curbs were also placed for the entry of vehicles into the national capital.

Several key areas in Delhi including the Secretariat housing the chief minister's office were flooded on Thursday, impairing normal life and traffic movement. Areas like Boat Club, Mayur Vihar, Geeta Colony, ISBT, Civil Lines, Kashmere Gate, Pandav Nagar, some parts of Gandhi Nagar, Bhajanpura were inundated with floodwaters. An order by the District Magistrate (East) said Shamshan Ghat in Geeta Colony has been closed due to the extreme rise in water levels.

Wazirabad, Chandrawal and Okhla water treatment plants were shut down, which is affecting the water supply in the national capital. As per a Reuters report, supplies of drinking water in the Indian capital will fall by a quarter on Thursday and Friday due to the closure of the plants. "As soon as the Yamuna water recedes, we will try to start them as soon as possible," CM Arvind Kejriwal said of the three water treatment plants.

In a tweet, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said, "Station Update. Entry and exit at Yamuna Bank Metro Station has been temporarily closed due to the rising water levels of the Yamuna River. However, interchange facility is still available and services on Blue Line are running normally. Kindly plan your journey accordingly." Metros crossing Yamuna bridges will move at a speed of 30kmph due to rising water levels, it said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced that all government and private schools were being closed in the flooded areas. Talking to ANI after the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) meeting with Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on the unprecedented flood situation in the national capital, Kejriwal said, “We had a DDMA meeting. Several important decisions were taken. Schools, colleges & universities will remain closed till Sunday. All government offices, except those providing essential services, will have Work from Home till Sunday. Advisory is being issued for private offices to do the same.”