Delhi and Punjab Battle Rising Floodwaters Amid Yamuna Overflow and Relentless Rains
Delhi and Punjab reel under unrelenting rainfall as the Yamuna overflows, flooding shelters and roads. Rescue teams evacuate hundreds, while Punjab faces crop devastation and casualties, prompting urgent government relief efforts.
Relief shelters across the low-lying belts of Delhi, particularly near Mayur Vihar Phase-I, were inundated on Thursday as the Yamuna River surged perilously above the red-line danger mark after unremitting downpours.
Official figures noted the river’s water level at Delhi’s Old Railway Bridge stood at 207.48 metres at 7:00 am. At both 5:00 am and 6:00 am, the level was nearly static, a sign of precious hydrological equilibrium.
With Delhi already waterlogged, authorities sounded a flood alert. In Civil Lines, vehicles were engulfed, and several buildings saw water intrusion along Bela Road. Even historic Kashmere Gate was not spared as surging waters seeped into nearby neighbourhoods.
🌊#FWR Ops | Delhi | 03 Sep
— NDRF India I राष्ट्रीय आपदा मोचन बल 🇮🇳 (@NDRFHQ) September 3, 2025
🔸Yamuna River flowing above danger mark after incessant rains
🔸NDRF teams Conducted #Rescue & #Evacuation at Yamuna Bazar, Najafgarh & Jaitpur
🔸Rescued– 05 persons, Evacuated– 626 persons & 13 livestock to safer locations pic.twitter.com/F1icNPUh99
Wednesday’s torrential showers crippled traffic and deepened waterlogging in the National Capital Region. Areas skirting the Yamuna riverbanks bore the brunt, with water intruding into residential alleys, relief shelters, and civic establishments already housing the displaced.
Visuals from Loha Pul captured the river in turbulent spate, breaching embankments and drawing temporary camps. In localities such as Yamuna Bazar and Yamuna Khadar, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, supported by district officials, relocated residents to safer zones.
Posting on X, NDRF India said: "Yamuna River flowing above danger mark after incessant rains. NDRF teams conducted Rescue and Evacuation at Yamuna Bazar, Najafgarh, and Jaitpur." They confirmed rescuing five individuals while evacuating 626 people and 13 livestock.
Meanwhile, the District Management Authority (DDMA) of North East Delhi reported an arduous 11-hour search-and-rescue mission at Usmanpur’s Yamuna Khadar. Coordinated with the Boat Club unit, the operation rescued three individuals, six dogs, and a calf trapped by the flood.
Daily life has been paralysed with major roads, including Krishna Menon Marg, Feroz Shah Kotla Road, and Arjangarh submerged, creating labyrinthine traffic snarls across the city.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted continued inclement skies. While Wednesday featured “moderate rain under generally cloudy skies,” Thursday is expected to bring thunderstorms with intense rainfall. Forecasts for September 5-6 suggest further heavy spells, amplifying civic apprehension. A Red nowcast warning has also been issued for Haryana’s Panipat, Sonipat, Gurugram, Faridabad, Palwal, and Mewat, with anticipated rainfall surpassing 15 mm per hour.
Punjab faces a parallel catastrophe. The state’s flood toll has risen to 37, with crops spanning 1.75 lakh hectares across 23 districts obliterated—an inundation reminiscent of the 1988 deluge. Educational institutions remain closed until September 7.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann sanctioned ₹71 crore in relief, urging citizens through X to assist affected families: “Let us support one another and contribute to the ongoing relief efforts.”
