22 Delhi trains cancelled amid widespread floods in North
23 Sep 2010
The Railways today cancelled as many as 22 trains in Delhi and announced the diversion of 65 other trains to and from the capital in view of the closure of the Old Yamuna Bridge following the dangerous swelling of the Yamuna River.
The cancelled trains were mostly local trains, while mail and express trains to Delhi were being diverted, a Northern Railway spokesperson said, adding that 53 trains were terminated at various stations.
The Old Yamuna Bridge, connecting east Delhi with the heart of the national capital, was shut for rail and road traffic on Tuesday morning as the water level in the Yamuna rose menacingly. Traffic movement was closed following rise in water level to 206.30 m, which is 1.47 m above the danger mark of 204.83 m following the release of a record 7.44 lakh cusec by Haryana.
Chief minister Sheila Dikshit called the situation "severe" but said all arrangements were in place to handle it.
The Central Water Commission said the water level was expected to touch 207 m by Wednesday. The closure of the bridge forced the diversion of traffic to NH 24, which links Delhi with Uttar Pradesh, choking arterial roads.
The Capital received 16.6 mm of rainfall till 5.30pm on Tuesday, leading to waterlogging and traffic snarls in several areas. The meteorological department has predicted more rain on Wednesday.