Displaced Yamuna Flood Victims Struggle in Tents Along Delhi-Meerut Expressway
70+ Akshardham Families in Damp Tents as Yamuna Recedes to 206.47m
Over 70 families uprooted by the Yamuna floods have turned a stretch of the Delhi-Meerut Motorway near Akshardham into a makeshift refuge, enduring damp tents, mosquito swarms, and constant fears as they rebuild shattered lives. Ganga Devi, a daily wage earner scraping by on Rs 300-400 from ragpicking or drain cleaning, lamented, "It's either demolition, rain, or flood. Where will the poor go?" Their 6x8 tarpaulin shelters house entire families, with stoves on bricks and damp clothes strung across strings. "Clothes don't dry in this rain; we rotate the few we have," said Kamlesh Kumar, cradling his sleeping son.
Mothers like Meena Kumari struggle with cramped spaces: "One child turns, and everyone wakes. Rain soaks our cooking area." Evenings bring added anxiety as children play near the bustling highway or the swollen river. "We fear they'll run into traffic or slip—our eyes never rest," shared elderly resident Kapu Mukhiya.
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Education has halted, with kids idling or helping with chores. Nights are restless amid vehicle noise, leaks, and insecurity—no locks on tents. Yet, resilience shines: Families share rations, and some, like flower-seller Ram Kumar, peddle garlands to passersby. "We can't stop working, or we won't eat," said Sita Ram.
Yamuna levels dipped to 206.47 metres at the Old Railway Bridge on Saturday from 207 metres but remain above the 206-metre evacuation threshold. Officials monitor closely, with tents erected in Mayur Vihar, Kashmere Gate, and nearby. Hathnikund barrage released 50,629 cusecs at 9 am, and Wazirabad 117,260 cusecs—water reaching Delhi in 48-50 hours. Agencies stay alert, as even moderate inflows risk further rises, with warnings at 204.50 m and danger at 205.33 m.
These camps offer temporary shelter, but for residents, the fight for normalcy continues amid Delhi's unforgiving monsoon.
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