Wave of Concern: Mass Fish Deaths in Najafgarh Drain Spur Environmental Alarm

Thousands of dead fish have been discovered in the Najafgarh drain, stirring alarm among environmentalists and authorities. This phenomenon, observed near Rawta village on the Delhi-Haryana border, is attributed to possible inflows of untreated residential and industrial waste.

Bhim Singh Rawat, a prominent Yamuna activist, highlighted the excessive waste inflow and rising temperatures as likely causes for the drop in dissolved oxygen (DO) levels, a critical factor leading to the fish deaths. Najafgarh is a major pollution channel impacting the Yamuna, with past incidents reported along the river.

Environmental experts, including Radhey Shyam Sharma from Delhi University, identify fish as key indicators of ecosystem health. The occurrence underscores the dangerous mixture toxicity resulting from multiple pollutants. Experts call for thorough investigations and prompt remedial measures to restore ecological balance.