By Krishna Dua 
Delhi Under Orange Alert: Heavy Rain Sparks Yamuna Flood Crisis
The national capital of Delhi and its surrounding regions, collectively known as the National Capital Region (NCR), are facing a severe crisis as relentless heavy rain continues to lash the area. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a serious “Orange Alert,” signifying the risk of significant urban flooding and a critical flood threat from the Yamuna River. The situation has spiraled into a full-blown crisis, prompting mass evacuations, the closure of schools, and a city-wide effort to manage the fallout from the incessant downpour.
The Forecast and Its Impact: A City Paralyzed
As of Wednesday, September 3, 2025, Delhi is in a state of emergency. The IMD’s Orange Alert is a direct result of an ongoing weather system that has brought the city to a grinding halt. The forecast predicts “very heavy rainfall” will continue throughout the day, driven by an active monsoon trough combined with an unusually potent Western Disturbance. This meteorological phenomenon has caused an influx of moisture-laden winds from both the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, leading to sustained, intense downpours across North India.
The immediate and most visible consequence has been the urban chaos. Roads and underpasses have become submerged, turning into makeshift rivers and leading to massive traffic snarls. Commuters have been stranded for hours, and in some of the most affected areas, vehicles have been submerged in several feet of water. The Delhi Traffic Police has been working around the clock to manage the situation, with a constant stream of advisories on social media urging people to avoid waterlogged routes. The disruption has been so severe that the Ghaziabad district administration, led by District Magistrate Ravindra Mandad, has declared a holiday for all schools from nursery to Class 12, a decision communicated by Basic Shiksha Adhikari O.P. Yadav to ensure the safety of students and staff. Similarly, schools in Noida have also been closed, with authorities advising a “work from home” policy for private offices to reduce the number of people on the roads.
The Yamuna: A River on the Brink
The most critical aspect of the current crisis is the dangerously rising water level of the Yamuna River. Fed by heavy rainfall in its upper catchment areas in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, the river has been swelling rapidly. At the Old Railway Bridge (ORB), the water level was recorded at a staggering 206.83 meters on Wednesday morning, well above the danger mark of 205.33 meters and nearing the flood level of 206.90 meters.
The cause of this rapid rise is the massive discharge of water from the Hathnikund Barrage in Haryana. In the past 48 hours, the barrage has released over 1.62 lakh cusecs of water, and with more rain in the upper reaches, officials expect the flow to increase further. The water released from Hathnikund typically takes 36 to 48 hours to reach Delhi, and the city is now experiencing the full force of these discharges.
The Delhi government’s Irrigation and Flood Control Department has been working with a sense of urgency. The Old Railway Bridge has been closed for all rail and road traffic to prevent any accidents. A large-scale evacuation process is underway, targeting more than 10,000 people living in low-lying areas across 28 city spots in East, North, and South-East Delhi. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), along with police and civil defense volunteers, are on the ground, making announcements from boats and urging residents to move to safer ground. Relief camps have been set up in schools and community centers in areas like Mayur Vihar and Yamuna Bazar to provide temporary shelter and food for those who have been displaced.
The current situation brings back vivid and painful memories of the 2023 floods, when the Yamuna River surged to an all-time high of 208.66 meters, a level breached only on four occasions in the past 63 years. That crisis caused unprecedented damage and forced thousands to flee their homes. The proactive response this year, with early warnings and evacuations, is a direct result of the lessons learned from that devastating event.
The Broader Context: Urban Planning and Climate Change
The recurring flood crisis in Delhi is not just a seasonal problem but a symptom of deeper, systemic issues. Urban planning experts and environmentalists have long pointed to the city’s flawed drainage system, which is incapable of handling the intense, short-duration rainfall that is becoming more frequent due to climate change. The rapid and unchecked urbanization, coupled with the encroachment on the Yamuna floodplain, has severely limited the river’s capacity to absorb excess water.
Experts like Bhim Singh Rawat, an associate coordinator at the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, have been vocal in their criticism. He argues that “beautification projects” on the floodplain have made the city more susceptible to flooding. He claims that projects like the Vasudev Ghat and other riverfront development initiatives have reduced the natural flood-buffering capacity of the river, forcing water to spill over into populated areas.
The current crisis highlights the urgent need for a complete overhaul of the city’s urban planning and a more sustainable approach to water management. While the immediate focus remains on rescue and relief, the long-term solution must involve a comprehensive strategy for building climate-resilient infrastructure. This includes improving drainage systems, removing encroachments from floodplains, and ensuring that future development projects do not exacerbate the risk of flooding.
In conclusion, Delhi is in the grip of a dual crisis—a combination of heavy rain and a raging Yamuna River. The government and emergency services are working tirelessly to manage the situation, and the proactive measures taken this year are a positive sign. However, the crisis also serves as a stark reminder of the city’s vulnerability to extreme weather events and the critical need for a long-term, strategic approach to urban development and climate change adaptation. The next 48 hours will be crucial, and while the city hopes for a return to normalcy, the threat of a full-blown flood crisis looms large