Delhi: Bawana area flooded after Munak canal breach, water supply affected

Delhi: Residents of outer Delhi’s Bawana faced significant disruption on Thursday as a major breach in the Munak canal sub-branch (CLC) led to water flooding streets and homes overnight.

Photos and videos of residents wading through waist-deep water in Bawana JJ Colony, along with images of waterlogged houses, schools, and hospitals, quickly spread on social media. Meanwhile, engineering teams from Haryana and Delhi worked urgently to repair the breach.

Water Minister Atishi visited the breach site and reported that repair work was expected to be completed by Thursday night. The water supply from the carrier line channel (CLC) was redirected to another sub-branch of the Munak canal to facilitate repairs.

Atishi announced that an inquiry by the Irrigation departments of Delhi and Haryana would follow once the emergency was handled to determine the cause of the breach. The breach also impacted the functioning of four water treatment plants, affecting water supply in various areas.

The water supply to the Bawana, Nangloi, and Hyderpur water treatment plants was anticipated to normalize by Thursday evening, while the Dwarka plant, which relies solely on the CLC for water, was expected to return to normal by Friday evening.

The breach in the CLC embankment occurred between midnight and 2 a.m. on Thursday, causing water from the Munak canal to flood many areas of Bawana. The Munak canal, which carries Yamuna water to Delhi, is maintained by the Haryana government. Teams from Haryana’s Irrigation Department and the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) were present at the site to manage the situation.

Repair efforts began immediately, with water from the CLC being diverted to another sub-branch. An embankment will be constructed once the water flow stops completely, followed by repairs to the breached section, expected to be completed by late Thursday night.

Mobile pumps from various agencies, including MCD, PWD, and DDA, were deployed to drain water from the affected areas, with hopes that the situation would soon normalise.

Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena instructed the Chief Secretary to request the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to evacuate stranded individuals and directed various agencies to provide relief and rehabilitation.

In a meeting with the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Saxena reviewed the flooding and was informed that his directives were being implemented.

Early Thursday, water from the Munak canal inundated the J, K, and L blocks of Bawana, causing significant inconvenience for residents. Videos on social media showed people wading through the water and children playing in shallow areas.

Residents reported facing numerous difficulties, including shortages of food and drinking water. A local resident mentioned that people were sharing resources, but no official assistance was available. Another resident, Arun Kumar, noted that the flooding had brought daily life to a standstill, with people unable to cook food.

BJP MP Yogender Chandolia, representing the North West Delhi constituency, received a call about the flooding at 2:30 a.m. and immediately ordered a power cut to prevent electrical hazards. Chandolia visited Garhi Bindroli village in Haryana to temporarily halt water flow into the Munak canal to minimize further flooding in Bawana. (With inputs from PTI)