Varying water releases from the Hathnikund Barrage over the past two days have caused a staggered increase in the Yamuna river's level, according to Central Water Commission data. The commission forecasts a gradual rise in the river in Delhi over the next two days.
Water discharge from the Hathnikund Barrage rose sharply from 2,149 cusecs at 6 am on July 28 to 23,235 cusecs by 4 pm that day. It reached 24,576 cusecs at 6 pm before declining, then spiked again to 24,478 cusecs at 2 am on July 29 and fell to 8,119 cusecs by 11 am.
Bhim Singh Rawat of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People attributed the changes to recent rainfall in the upper Yamuna catchment upstream of the barrage.
Central Water Commission stations recorded varying levels along the stretch between the barrage and Delhi. The staggered pattern reflects the uneven release schedule over the two-day period.