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Yamuna rises 1 meter above danger mark in Delhi

Delhi was on edge on Friday with the water level in Yamuna rising one meter above the danger mark, threatening to flood the nearby low lying areas even as Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit appealed to people not to panic.

The water level in the river touched 205.88 meter at 3 pm and is likely to rise further in the evening when water released from Hathanikund Barrage in Haryana reaches the city, a Flood Control Department official said.

Yamuna had crossed danger level of 204.83 metres on Thursday, prompting authorities to evacuate hundreds of people living in the low-lying areas. Seventy-four boats and 68 divers have also been pressed into service.

Dikshit, asking people not to panic, said even though Haryana has released nearly 9 lakh cusec of water in the last three days, there may not be much threat to the city as water has dispersed due to breaking of embankments along the route. 

Flood Control Minister Raj Kumar Chouhan said over 100 booster pumps were fitted along the banks of the river to pump out water which may enter the low-lying areas.

Last month too, the water level in the Yamuna rose above the danger level, prompting authorities to shift a large number of people to relief camps.

Additional Reportage: PTI