The Yamuna River, considered one of India’s most sacred rivers, is covered with noxious foam, posing a threat to the health of its residents, the Associated Press reported on the 10th (local time).
According to reports, hundreds of Hindus immersed themselves in the water and offered prayers on the Yamuna River, covered with white foam, to commemorate the festival of Chat Puja, a Hindu festival of the sun god.
“The Yamuna River appears to be covered in thick snow, but it is a toxic bubble caused by pollutants emitted around it,” the Associated Press reported.
The 1376 km long Yamuna is one of the most sacred rivers for Hindus and one of the most polluted areas in the world. The river supplies more than half of New Delhi’s water, but it has been polluted over the years as sewage, farm pesticides from neighboring states, and industrial wastewater from the factory city have flowed in.
Although this poses a serious threat to the health of the residents, devotees flock to it every year during the Chart Puja festival.
Authorities have taken steps to deploy motorboats to disperse toxic foam and erect barricades away from river banks.
India’s capital, New Delhi, with over 20 million people, is one of the most polluted cities in the world. In particular, the level of air pollution that covers the sky in winter reaches its extreme, and the residents are suffering.
Pollution levels rise again as farmers in nearby agricultural areas set fires to their land after harvest for the next crop season, the Associated Press reported.
[뉴델리=AP/뉴시스]
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