Delhi:
There is no danger to the Commonwealth Games Village from the rising waters of the Yamuna, says the Delhi government.
This came after a high-level meeting, on Thursday, to discuss the flood alert in the capital. The government says there is no need for panic, as additional boats and pumps have been put into action, and all low lying areas facing the danger of flooding evacuated.
Speaking to reporters, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said, "About 99 percent of citizens living in low-lying areas have been shifted to safer locations and there is no need to panic, the situation is under control."
The alert has been issued as the Yamuna river continues to flow above the danger mark. On Thursday, it was at 204.7 metres.
The government expects the water level in the Yamuna to go up by a metre by Friday as a huge volume of water is heading towards Delhi after close to six lakh cusecs of water was released from the Hatnikund barrage.That water is expected to reach Delhi on Thursday night or early Friday morning.
Last month, when close two lakh cusecs of water was released, some low lying areas along the Yamuna had been flooded.
1978 saw the worst floods in Delhi when the capital was swamped by seven lakh cusecs of water released from Hatnikund.
The excess water released from Hatnikund has already caused a breach in the Markanda river, damaging a portion of the Ambala-Saharanpur national highway, and inundating 20 villages in the Yamunanagar area of Haryana.
Five districts in Haryana have also been put on flood alert.
(With Agencies' inputs)