Prayagraj is transforming into a massive temporary city to host the Maha Kumbh, the world's largest religious gathering, expected to draw over 40 crore pilgrims. The preparations include extensive infrastructure development, including 160,000 tents, 150,000 toilets, and a 1,250-km pipeline network. The event, starting on January 13, will culminate on February 26, bringing together millions of devotees for the holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers.
At least 30 people were killed and 60 others injured in a pre-dawn stampede at the Sangam area of the Maha Kumbh early on Wednesday as crores of pilgrims jostled for space to take a holy dip on the occasion of one of the most auspicious days of Mauni Amavasya, officials said.
Threat of flood loomed large over the national capital as the water level in Yamuna rose well above the danger mark and is set to go up significantly with Haryana releasing over nine lakh cusecs of water into the river in the last two days.
With Haryana releasing over eight lakh cusecs of water, the Yamuna today inched towards the danger mark, threatening to flood the nearby low lying areas, even as Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said all measures have been taken to deal with the "serious" situation.
The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday directed the principal committee, constituted for rejuvenation of Yamuna, to inspect the site on river floodplains where a three-day festival was organised by Art of Living under the patronage of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
Despite losing the Municipal Corporation of Delhi polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party fared well in trans-Yamuna areas, including northeast Delhi that was rocked by communal riots in 2020, but its performance took a hit in the city's northern and southern parts of the city, data showed.
'Why did they not raise their voice against the pollution in the Yamuna earlier?' 'Why were they quiet for so long against construction and encroachment on the flood plains.'
Flood fear gripped several areas of the capital as water level in Yamuna went up to over two metres above the danger level, crossing the 207-metre mark for first time in 32 years and forcing the city government to evacuate more people living in low-lying areas to safer places. Authorities said the water level is expected to go up further and may touch 207.30 metres by Thursday afternoon, but insisted that all arrangements have been made to deal with the situation.
The water level reached 205.60 metres at 9:00 am on Friday, a senior Delhi Government official said, adding that all steps are being taken to evacuate people living in low-lying areas.
Kailash Gahlot, a key minister in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi, has resigned, potentially impacting the party's ambitious plan to roll out a Rs 1000 monthly honorarium scheme for women ahead of the Assembly polls in February. Gahlot, who represented the Jat-dominated Najafgarh constituency in West Delhi, cited several issues, including the "Sheeshmahal" controversy over his former official residence, the Delhi government's tussle with the Centre, and the failure to clean the Yamuna River, in his resignation letter. Delhi BJP leaders welcomed Gahlot's resignation, fueling speculation that he could join the party before the assembly polls. However, AAP leaders claimed Gahlot resigned due to pressure from central agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate, and that joining the BJP was his last option. Gahlot's resignation has sparked speculation about his future and the impact it will have on the AAP's electoral prospects.
The double-decker bus belonged to Awadh Depot and was going to New Delhi from Lucknow.
Scenes from flooded Delhi after the Yamuna rose well above the danger mark, July 13, 2023.
The Art of Living Foundation chose to hold the World Culture Festival on the Yamuna floodplains in spite of being aware of the environmental, legal consequences, letters exchanged between it and the Delhi Development Authority show.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who visited the Wazirabad water treatment plant, warned of rationalising water supply to deal with "acute shortage".
The court said the river has been polluted due to dumping of waste, its embankment had been encroached upon by jhuggis and places for religious worship which cannot be permitted.
Based on his '12 years of Yamuna activism', he hit out at people 'who believe' that the river can be revived by 'keeping it untouchable'.
'Bateshwar is a rare temple where Shiva is depicted in his human form (and not his symbol, the Lingam).'
Helen said the US embassy in Dhaka will resume this week its consular service to expedite visa processing.
The pictures and videos of the locals wading through waist deep water in Bawana JJ colony area, waterlogged houses, school and hospital went viral on social media even as teams of engineers from Haryana and Delhi worked on a war footing to plug the breach.
'The water scarcity being faced by 30 lakh people of Delhi is only because of the BJP.'
Authorities said the water level is expected to go up further and may touch 207.30 metres by Thursday afternoon but insisted that all arrangements have been made to deal with the situation.
In the second part of the series on real estate investments in and around various hotspots in India we take a look at the Yamuna Expressway. Estatelister.com gives five reasons why the Yamuna Expressway will not turn out to be a multi-bagger in the next five years.
The water level in Yamuna was at 206.14 metres at 9 am on Friday morning, and according to the forecast it is expected to come down to 205.85 metres by the evening.
Pollution levels in the once-majestic river have gone up dramatically despite the capital spending around Rs 2,000 crore on sewage treatment plants and other facilities.
Several areas in east Delhi were on Saturday flooded as the water level in the Yamuna continued to rise dangerously, threatening to submerge more low-lying areas.
The Yamuna river continues to be in spate following the release of about one lakh cusecs of water in two phases from the Hathnikund Barrage and the Tajewala headworks near Yamunanagar.
The counsel for Punjab told a bench headed by Justice SK Kaul that the state government is very keen to resolve the issue amicably.
The police said the accused, Ajay Kumar, was arrested from his residence in New Usmanpur, the area where the incident occurred, adding that efforts are on to round up the other accused in the case.
Giving the "legal status" of living humans to the holy rivers, the court ordered that the Director, Namami Gange project for cleaning and rejuvenating the river
The expert panel has suggested that there would be two components of rehabilitation plan -- physical and biological, and they would cost Rs 28.73 crore and Rs l3.29 crore respectively, besides additional ancillary expenses.
The rains could lead to a rise in the water levels of the Yamuna, which has been flowing above the danger mark of 205.33 metres for days now.
Low-lying areas along the Yamuna remained submerged for the second consecutive day though the water level in the river started receding on Thursday.
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.
As floods hit the low-lying areas in the national capital, slum dwellers whose houses got submerged claimed that they were not alerted beforehand and many others alleged that help was not forthcoming from the administration.
'Does the government help ordinary citizens like you and me with our marriages, birthdays and anniversaries?' Rashme Sehgal reports on the controversy over the the Art Of Living Foundation's plans for a cultural festival on the Yamuna floodplains.
Some of the places where heavy waterlogging was reported included the Minto Bridge underpass, Feroz Shah Road, Patel Chowk Metro Station area and Maharaj Ranjeet Singh Marg.
The Delhi Jal Board has deployed patrol teams for the main water distribution network that carries raw water to the water treatment plants and then from them to the main underground reservoirs in different parts of the city, Atishi said in the letter.
Rajghat, the Mahatma Gandhi memorial in New Delhi, is waterlogged, a consequence of the rising water levels of the Yamuna river.
After the swollen Yamuna river flooded low-lying areas of Delhi causing residents to be evacuated from their submerged houses and stay in makeshift shelters, some parts where the flood water has receded, Delhi-ites are now facing the new problem: Mud.
The visuals on social media also showed huge traffic on the National Highway-24 and Sarai Kale Khan where vehicles were crawling. Water from the overflowing Yamuna river reached ITO, a key route to commute from east Delhi to central Delhi and Connaught Place.
