The national capital has been grappling with severe flooding after the Yamuna River breached its danger mark, swelling to over 207 metres on Wednesday afternoon. This sudden surge has left many of Delhi’s low-lying areas inundated, turning streets into muddy streams and marketplaces into waterlogged pockets. Areas such as Majnu ka Tila, Madanpur Khadar, Badarpur, and Yamuna Bazaar have been among the worst affected, with visuals showing homes submerged and shops struggling to stay afloat.
The human cost of the deluge has been immense. More than 10,000 residents have been evacuated from vulnerable neighborhoods and shifted to relief camps set up by authorities. The iconic Old Railway Bridge (Loha Pul) was also shut down for safety reasons as flood levels continued to rise. Families and shopkeepers who were caught unprepared have sought refuge in makeshift shelters along roadsides and flyovers. Many are now surviving on limited food supplies such as biscuits and buns after losing access to kitchens and utensils.
Heartbreaking stories are emerging from the ground. In Majnu ka Tila, shopkeeper Anup Thapa shared how he had to evacuate his store in the middle of the night, salvaging only a fraction of his goods while facing mounting repair costs. In Badarpur, a resident named Asif was seen carrying belongings on his head while lamenting the loss of his home to the rising waters. In Madanpur Khadar, families now live under plastic sheets on pavements, with women struggling due to the absence of toilets and basic facilities.
Authorities have stepped up their response. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has activated a 24×7 control room to handle complaints and manage relief work in real time. A new 5-lakh-litre sump tank with four high-powered pumps has been installed near Purana Qila Road to manage water drainage, while long-term measures such as a ₹13.1 crore de-silting project are being rolled out. In addition, the government has deployed 560,000 sandbags, 58 rescue boats, and 82 mobile pumps, with disaster teams stationed at vulnerable points across the city.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Delhi-NCR, warning of continued rainfall that could worsen the flooding situation. The crisis is not confined to the capital alone — northern states including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir are also reeling from heavy rain, flash floods, and landslides. The impact has extended beyond India’s borders too, with officials issuing warnings to Pakistan about potential downstream flooding.
For Delhi’s residents, the images tell the story best: streets transformed into streams, markets under murky waters, and families huddling together in makeshift shelters. While authorities continue to battle the crisis, the resilience of the people — clinging to hope amid hardship — remains the strongest force keeping the city afloat.
