NEW DELHI: Swim and save — this seems to be the police’s action plan for areas in the north of the city and Shahdara, where the Yamuna has inundated neighbourhoods. Police have also deployed swimmers from the force, boats and drones for the search and rescue operations.The police are also looking for swimmers among residents who know an area’s topography. The personnel have also been given flood-rescue kits that have torches, ropes, first aid supplies, and reflective jackets.In the North district, 96 personnel who are swimmers with CPR training are leading the rescue effort. “We have also enlisted 38 volunteers. They are residents who can swim and are willing to help,” a police source said.Deputy commissioner of police (north) Raja Banthia said that station house officers have been told to identify swimmers in the force and find residents, with familiarity of the area and a willingness to assist the cops. Rescue kits have reached police stations close to the river, such as Burari, Wazirabad, Timarpur, Civil Lines and Kashmere Gate. Police said that boat patrols have rescued stranded residents. Drones are being used to monitor the water level and identify areas where assistance is needed.Traffic police have identified 80 waterlogging hotspots after analysing past cases. “Pumps are being installed where possible, and where installation isn’t feasible, small portable pumps are being used to remove the water,” an officer said.In Shahdara district, drone surveillance is being done all day over the affected areas.Till Thursday, 40 people from Gandhi Nagar and 13 from Geeta Colony were relocated to camps. DCP (Shahdara) Prashant Gautam has requested people to stay away from the banks as Ganesh idol immersions will happen soon. In Dwarka, over 1,000 residents have been evacuated. DCP (Dwarka) Ankit Singh said on Wednesday that a 50-foot embankment of the Mangeshpur drain in Haryana had been breached. It caused about a five-foot inundation in Geetanjali Enclave, Jharoda Kalan and Baba Haridas Nagar police station in Delhi. “Overnight, people were moved to govt schools in Jharoda Kalan,” he said.
