Dead fish found floating in the Yamuna near Sonia Vihar and the Wazirabad bridge in northeast Delhi have triggered a police complaint and a political row days before Chhath, when large numbers of devotees gather at the river's ghats to offer prayers.

Source: ANI

The Irrigation and Flood Control Department has submitted a complaint at Sonia Vihar Police Station seeking registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against unidentified persons for allegedly dumping dead fish into the river. In a letter dated November 12, Executive Engineer (Civil Division-IV) Somnath Kashyap flagged the issue ahead of the Chhath celebrations on November 15 and 16, and copies of the complaint were also forwarded to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Karawal Nagar) and senior department officials.

Source: DevDiscourse

Department officials alleged that the fish were dumped with the sole objective of tarnishing the image of the Delhi government, which is organising Chhath at a large scale, and said the act hurts devotees' religious sentiments. Delhi government ministers have accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of being behind the alleged dumping — an allegation the AAP has rejected.

AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj has alleged, in turn, that the fish died because of pollution in the Yamuna. Reports of the incident followed the circulation of videos on social media showing dead fish floating near the Sonia Vihar stretch of the river.

Cause of the fish deaths not yet established

No report so far has established who, if anyone, placed the fish in the river, or what caused their deaths. The available reporting contains no independent laboratory assessment, water-quality reading or pollution-control finding on this incident, and it does not confirm whether police have registered an FIR on the department's complaint.

What is solid

  • Dead fish were found in the Yamuna near Sonia Vihar, and videos of them circulated on social media
  • The Irrigation and Flood Control Department wrote to Sonia Vihar police on November 12 seeking an FIR against unidentified persons
  • Chhath will be celebrated on November 15-16, with devotees expected at Yamuna ghats

What is only claimed

  • The Delhi government alleges unidentified persons deliberately dumped dead fish to tarnish its image ahead of Chhath
  • The AAP alleges the fish died due to pollution in the Yamuna; the cause of death has not been officially established

What happens next rests with Sonia Vihar police, who must decide on the department's FIR request, and with any official water-quality or forensic examination that could establish how the fish died — a question that has sharpened as Chhath devotees prepare to stand in the same river this weekend.