Delhi residents face wrath of overflowing River Yamuna

New Delhi, June 20 (ANI): Residents in the low lying areas of New Delhi faced the brunt of waterlogging on roads as the River Yamuna continued to swell on Thursday in the wake of torrential early monsoon rains across North India.

Flood waters have inundated roads and roof tops of heavy vehicles like buses and trucks on the roads were visible.

Some of the residents were forced to flee from their homes.

The rains have been at least twice as heavy as usual in northwest and central India as the June-September monsoon spreads north, covering the whole country a month faster than normal.

Trees were uprooted and temples and shanties were submerged in the low-lying areas of the city.

"The water is everywhere now; it is coming on the roads too. The poor people who were living on the banks in their shanties, their houses have been destroyed completely and there are just remains, left behind. Everyday the level of water is rising and coming on the roads. Why the government is not doing anything?" said Shivendra, a local resident.

The water level of Yamuna crossed the danger mark of 204.83 metres and it reached 206.40 metres. The Flood Control and Irrigation department said the water level would touch 207.05 meters later on Wednesday.

Floodwater flowing in the city has remains of rooftops of houses and remains of animals and vegetables, which have been swept along the river for many days now.

"As compared to yesterday, the water level has increased. We could see the roof tops of the shanties floating in the river water along with the animals and vegetables like pumpkin, water melon and other vegetables," said Rashid Ali, another local.

In Uttarakhand, where officials more than hundred people had been killed, air force helicopters air-dropped commandos to help rescue some of the tens of thousands of people unable to move because of the floods.

Tourists in the northern state have been left stranded, as roads leading out of the region have been washed away by the incessant rains.

Rains, which were 48 percent above normal across India up until June 16, are expected to ease up in the next week, according to weather department officials.

So far, the rains have not hit the summer sowing season in India, as planting of rice, sugar, cotton and other agricultural produce is not yet in full swing. (ANI)