NEW DELHI: Visuals of hundreds of dead fish and many more gasping for oxygen in Yamuna upstream of Wazirabad have raised fresh concerns over the river’s pollution levels. The alarming development comes soon after the monsoon, when the river is expected to have adequate water along with cleaner inflows from upstream.
2 in Panipat and Dhanaura drain in Haryana, as possible contributors. TOI had recently reported a spike in pollution levels in the river in Sept, raising questions about why water quality remains so poor even after the monsoon.
“Similar fish deaths were reported near Burari in May 2025 and July 2024,” stated the letter while warning that Burari lies upstream of Wazirabad barrage, and the incident could have implications for Delhi’s drinking water source. He said industrial pollution could also be a factor. In a letter to Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), environmental group Earth Warrior sought an immediate investigation and water sampling at upstream locations. It called for testing dissolved oxygen, biochemical and chemical oxygen demand, faecal coliform, heavy metals and toxic substances, and identifying drains or industrial units discharging untreated effluents. Rawat flagged restricted environmental flows and untreated discharges from drains, including Drain no. The incident follows DPCC’s Sept water-quality analysis, which recorded high pollution levels at several locations, including an elevated biochemical oxygen demand and faecal coliform count at ISBT Bridge. No response was available from DPCC on the recent incident.
Bhim Singh Rawat of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People said the recurring deaths in a “relatively cleaner stretch” were deeply concerning. “If this is from pollution, then adverse effect may impact Delhi’s potable water as well,” he said, calling for an investigation to find the exact cause.