Chandigarh, Jul 26 (IANS): After heavy rains in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the water level in Hathnikund barrage in Haryana's Yamunanagar district increased alarmingly on Thursday, forcing the authorities to sound an alert.

Residents of villages along the Yamuna river have been advised not to go near the river or let their animals venture near it, a government official told IANS here.

He said officials of various departments in Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Panipat and Sonipat districts have sounded the alert.

The water level at the Hathnikund barrage -- which provides drinking water to New Delhi -- along the Haryana-Uttarakhand border had also risen in the morning.

The Yamuna river passes through Yamunanagar, Karnal and Panipat districts in Haryana before entering New Delhi.

The Met has predicted that Haryana's neighbouring hill states would continue to experience heavy rains for the next two days.