Knee-Deep In Toxic Foam, Devotees Offer Chhath Prayers At Delhi's Yamuna River: Watch

Chhath Puja 2023: Devotees in Delhi offered Arghyas while standing knee-deep in toxic foam floating on the surface of the Yamuna river.

Chhath Puja 2023: Devotees in Delhi offered Arghyas while standing knee-deep in toxic foam floating on the surface of the Yamuna river. ( Image Source :X/@ANI )

As Chhath Puja 2023 comes to an end, devotees on Monday morning were seen giving the final Arghya of this year at Delhi's Kalindi Kunj Ghat while standing knee-deep in toxic foam floating on the surface of the Yamuna river. The foam caused by a high amount of phosphate can lead to skin and respiratory problems, but like every year, devotees braced the recurring problem to offer their prayers. 

#WATCH | Delhi: Devotees offer prayers at Kalindi Kunj Ghat as part of #ChhathPooja https://t.co/cxVGC69hlL pic.twitter.com/Omlgp6X0OI

— ANI (@ANI) November 19, 2023

Toxic Foam In Yamuna River A Recurring Problem

Delhi Minister and AAP leader Atishi had earlier promised to tackle the issue in two days. She said, "To remove that (toxic foam), sprinkling of food-grade chemicals and enzymes is being done there. The sprinkling team started the sprinkling work on 10 boats last night. In the next two days, the toxic foam will completely vanish...But I would like to urge the Uttar Pradesh government to not send its polluted water to Delhi."

#WATCH | On cleaning of river Yamuna ahead of Chhath, Delhi Minister Atishi says, "To remove that (toxic foam), sprinkling of food-grade chemicals and enzymes is being done there. The sprinkling team started the sprinkling work on 10 boats last night. In the next two days, the… pic.twitter.com/uXD3cv8UnS

— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2023

Almost every year Yamuna river faces the same situation during the time of Chhath. According to an Indian Express report, a Delhi Jal Board official said that the presence of phosphates from detergents, and anaerobic bacteria in the water that falls from a height at the Okhla barrage leads to this issue.

Senior Programme Manager of the Water Programme at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Sushmita Sengupta, said that the river is in a lean phase at this time of the year and the water flow is less due to which pollutants are not diluted causing foaming.