September 4, 2025

Delhi faced massive water chaos as the Yamuna river flooded past 207 metres on Wednesday, September 3, 2025 — a rare event happening only five times since 1963! The raging river submerged homes, ruined shop goods, and jammed traffic in many parts of the city. The floodwaters even forced operations to stop at Nigambodh Ghat, the oldest and busiest cremation ground in Delhi. Located near the Red Fort on Ring Road, Nigambodh Ghat has 42 cremation platforms and handles up to 60 cremations daily. It suspended new cremations by 2:30 pm, finishing only the ones started before. The Geeta Colony crematorium also faced flooding, pushing staff to find dry spots for funeral rituals. According to the revenue department, 8,018 people were shifted to tents, 2,030 moved to 13 permanent shelters, while 180 remained to be relocated. To avoid backflow of water from Yamuna, all 13 regulator drains in Delhi were closed, a government official told PTI. People waded through neck-deep water, carrying their belongings on their heads, desperately moving to safer places. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police, and fire services rushed to help with rescue operations. From shopkeepers in Majnu-ka-Tila to families in Madanpur Khadar, Jaitpur, and Badarpur, many were displaced, living in makeshift shelters, hoping for the flooding to calm soon. On Wednesday evening at 8 pm, the Yamuna stood at 207.39 metres and was expected to rise further. Hathnikund Barrage released over 1.68 lakh cusecs of water toward Delhi. Officials warned North, North East, Shahdara, East, Central, and South East Delhi are flood-prone zones. Nearly 10,000 residents in low-lying areas were affected by the swollen river. This flood comes close to the 2023 havoc when Yamuna peaked at 208.66 metres, the highest ever in 60 years. Previous big floods hit in 1978 (207.49 m), 2010 (207.11 m), and 2013 (207.32 m). To fight this flood, the government set up relief camps at 38 places and pitched 522 tents in 27 locations. The Irrigation and Flood Control Department is in close touch with Uttar Pradesh to manage water release from Okhla Barrage. Officials said more water release from Okhla helps the city drain floodwaters faster. Meanwhile, MCD Standing Committee Chairperson Satya Sharma ordered insecticide spraying in flood-hit areas and relief camps to curb mosquito-borne diseases. Life in Majnu-ka-Tila market turned silent as floodwaters entered streets. Shopkeeper Anup Thapa shared, "We shifted most of our goods, but some still got spoiled. Even after the water goes, we will have to repair the shop, which will cost us." He and his family moved to a roadside camp, pleading, "I urge the government to clean the streets and fix the area so that such incidents don't happen again," pointing to low-hanging electric wires above floodwater. In Madanpur Khadar, families losing their homes stayed under old plastic sheets on roadsides. Tayara, a resident, said, "All our belongings are inside. We could barely take out a few things. Women are facing a lot of problems as there are no toilets." Animal lovers also rescued injured and pregnant stray dogs stranded near Yamuna. Traffic troubles hit the Outer Ring Road from Majnu-ka-Tila to Salimgarh By-Pass as rising Yamuna water flooded Vasudev Ghat area. Delhi Traffic Police diverted vehicles at Wazirabad-Signature Bridge and Chandgi Ram Akhada-IP College red light routes. They warned of heavy jam on Outer Ring Road and nearby stretches. Delhi again battles a harsh flood reality as nature's force reminds the city of its vulnerable neck deep in the Yamuna's roaring waves.

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Tags: Yamuna flood, Delhi flooding 2025, Nigambodh ghat, Flood relief, Okhla barrage, Traffic diversion,