Flooded Yamuna Brings Delhi to a Standstill, Relief Camps and Crematoriums Submerged

New Delhi is reeling under a flood crisis as the Yamuna River, swollen by relentless rainfall, has surged well above the danger mark and inundated several parts of the capital. Low-lying neighbourhoods, key roads, and critical public facilities have been submerged, severely disrupting daily life and essential services.

Relief camps established for displaced families in Mayur Vihar, Yamuna Khadar and Geeta Colony have themselves been flooded, leaving evacuees in precarious conditions. Authorities have shifted thousands of people to temporary shelters, but shortages of food, drinking water, and sanitation remain a concern.

The deluge has also struck Delhi’s cremation grounds. Nigambodh Ghat, the city’s largest crematorium, has been shut after water levels rose, while operations at Geeta Colony crematorium have been partially suspended. Floodwaters have damaged stored wood and disrupted rituals, forcing many families to seek alternatives for last rites.

Urban mobility has been hit hard. Waterlogging has paralysed traffic at major junctions, including ITO, Civil Lines, Kashmere Gate and stretches near the Delhi Secretariat. In Alipur, part of a flyover caved in following continuous waterlogging, highlighting the strain on civic infrastructure.

According to officials, the Yamuna touched 207.47 metres, ranking among the highest water levels ever recorded. Over 12,000 people have been displaced, with rescue operations led by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in coordination with local agencies. Pumps have been deployed to drain water, while health departments are carrying out chlorine spraying and awareness drives to curb the spread of waterborne diseases.

As rainfall continues across northern India, authorities fear further escalation of the crisis. With relief camps struggling, crematoriums shut, and transport routes crippled, the city faces one of its most severe flood emergencies in recent years.