Delhi floods: Yamuna reclaims land as illegal colonies drown amid flood crisis

Delhi is grappling with severe flooding as the Yamuna river has inundated several areas, including the Monastery Market and farmlands near Akshardham. Authorities state many affected constructions are illegal encroachments on the 'Zone O' floodplain, a designated no-construction area. The floods have displaced the poorest residents, including migrant workers, who have lost their makeshift homes and are now in temporary government shelters. Experts attribute the disaster to a combination of extreme rainfall events linked to accelerated climate change and unchecked urbanization that has disrupted the river's natural course. The situation highlights a critical conflict over land use and urban planning, underscored by the quote, "It's our city dwellers who've forgotten where the river really ends, where the city really starts."