‘Tents overcrowded, govt relief inadequate’ : Evacuees from Yamuna bank left in the lurch

New Delhi: Twenty-six-year-old Premvati, a mother of three, is having a tough time making ends meet after her family was evacuated four days ago because of the rising water levels in the Yamuna.

With the Yamuna flowing over the danger mark, her family is one of the many living in Chilla village in Yamuna Khadar who have been evacuated.

Breastfeeding her eight-month-old baby, inside a makeshift tent near Mayur Vihar extension along the NH-24 highway, she complained about not getting adequate support and relief from the government.

"We were asked to evacuate four days ago by the authorities. We moved here and have built a temporary tent along the roadside all on our own. The tents set up by the government are already overcrowded.

"To use toilet, we have to walk over a kilometer where the mobile toilets are stationed. Also, there is no proper arrangement for drinking water and food. Somehow, we are managing. Today more tents are being put up and we hope to find a place there," a visibly disturbed Premvati said. 

According to another evacuee Ramavtar, it happens almost every year as the water level rises and those living in low-lying areas are being asked to relocate.

"But there are no proper arrangements for shelter, food and water. For food and water, we have to go to the tents erected up by the government, but that means walking almost a kilometer for every meal," he said, lamenting that on Monday he got only four puris for his family of four as he couldn't make it on time. 

Gabr, 27, is meanwhile waiting for the water level in the river to come down so that he can check his farmland which is submerged -- the only source for his income.

Less than a mile from the ITO, on the other side of the bridge on the Yamuna, scores of tents have come up with hundreds of settlers evacuated from the river banks awaiting relief. 

Water level in the Yamuna continued to rise and stayed over the danger mark for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday even as more than 10,000 people were moved to safer areas.

The river was flowing at 206.04 metres this noon, with the danger mark being 204.83 metres, officials said, adding the water level is expected to rise further. 

The government has also put up tents near the DND flyover, along the highway in Mayur Vihar Phase I and along the Vikas Marg.

More than 10,000 people have been evacuated due to rising water levels and shifted to safer places, a government official said.

A total of 1,149 tents have been set up to accommodate the evacuated people. Food and medical help is also being extended to them, he said.
 
Meanwhile, discharge from the Hathani Kund Barrage rose further as water was being released at intervals, the Delhi government's flood control room said. It was 5,13,554 cusecs on Monday.

Road traffic on Old Yamuna Bridge remains affected as it was closed after the water level in the river rose on Sunday, the traffic police said. 

However, the Rail traffic over the bridge was suspended on Tuesday as the water level in the Yamuna river continued to rise, northern railways said.

The bridge serves as a major connectivity link between Delhi and the neighbouring states. The highest water level recorded at Old Yamuna Bridge was 207.49 metres in 1978.

It was 207.11 metres in 2010 and 207.32 metres in 2013, according to the Delhi Disaster Management Authority.