Dead Fish Pile Up At Bata River In Paradip

Paradip: Locals on Monday were shocked to find over hundreds of dead fish floating across Bata river at Balijhara village in Paradip.

The locals alleged they have collected at least two tonnes of dead fishes from the river, reports said.

Though the exact reason behind the death of the fishes is yet to be ascertained, it is being suspected that someone might have poisoned the water for fishing.

However, official sources said lack of oxygen in the river due to water stagnation and pollution could be one of the possible reasons behind the incident.

Earlier, mass fish deaths were also reported in the river in 2016 and the re-run of the incident has now sparked resentment among the people.

"Fishes worth rupees lakhs have been found dead. People here yesterday collected around 2 to 3 tonnes of dead fishes," said a local resident.

Sources said that the Balijhara Yuva Parishad, a local organization had alleged that illegal fishing in Bata river here has assumed serious proportions.

The members of the organisation had earlier found some nets, laid to trap different species of fishes that are found in abundance here, sources said.