India, Sept. 1 -- For the fourth time this season, the Delhi government on Monday issued a flood warning for the Capital as heavy rainfall in upstream states such as Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand pushed the discharge at Haryana's Hathnikund barrage beyond the critical 300,000-cusec mark for the first time this year.

At 7pm, the Yamuna was flowing at 205 metres in Delhi - below the danger mark of 205.33m - but officials said the effect of Monday's surge would only be visible after 36 hours, the usual time it takes for water released from Hathnikund to reach the National Capital Region.

The highest water level this monsoon, 205.95m, was recorded on August 19. Experts now warn that they expect this year's peak level to be crossed within...