Filth and Faith: Foam-Filled Plight of Yamuna River in Pictures
Once a Holy River, Yamuna is now one of the most polluted water bodies in India due to industrial, religious and ceremonial waste
Yamuna River falls victim to a harmful and thick layer of white foam every year in Delhi. People around the river, which is considered a holy entity in the country, dump various industrial and religious waste into it. This leads to the accumulation of toxic foam-filled layers on the surface of the Yamuna River annually, especially around the winters.
The Yamuna originates from Yamunotri Glacier, happens to be the second-largest and India’s longest tributary of Ganga River. Waste material from chemical factories, tanneries and ceremonial processions creates a layer of froth on the surface of the river that continues to foul the waters for months.
Surprisingly, despite being highly polluted and hazardous to health, the river is still one of the main bathing sites for the devotees of Chhath Puja. People continue to worship the sun god while standing in contaminated waters of the Yamuna near Delhi’s Kalindi Kunj each year without fail.
Image: Altaf Qadri/AP
Nearly 70 percent of Delhi’s water supply depends on Yamuna’s water. Unfortunately, such ceremonial rituals and chemical waste add to the pollution levels and create an absolutely ugly reality for Yamuna River.
This begs the question – what is this white foam and why does it form? If you are looking for answers to these questions then read on. Here are some shocking images from the Chhath Puja celebrations in the contaminated foam-filled Yamuna River that explain the reasons behind its frothy appearance.
Foam-Filled Yamuna River – Components of phosphate and surfactants are responsible for the formation of froth in the river, which are hazardous for health and can cause skin irritation.
Image: Burhaan Kinu/Hindustan Times
Germ-infesting shore – Once a Holy River, this contaminated river now is frothed and can cause gastrointestinal complications and diseases like typhoid.
Image: PTI
The dumping ground – Despite being worshiped, Yamuna now is not less than a dumping bin for people living in its periphery.
Image: Haziq Qadri/Barcroft Media
Rowing in dirt-fizz – Delhi Jal Board Vice Chairman Raghav Chadha claims that flinging waste from height at the Okhla barrage causes the annual foam formation.
Image: Chandan Khanna/AFP
Celebration or obliteration? – Waste from religious festivals has now become one of the main reasons contributing to water pollution in Indian rivers.
Image: Virendra Singh Gosain/Hindustan Times
Chhath Puja – Chhath Puja is a Hindu festival devoted to the sun god. It is celebrated to show gratitude for bestowing life on earth but the very festivities are also responsible for polluting the same life.
Image: PTI
Image: Saumya Khandelwal
Toxic bathing bubbles – The devotees practice various rituals including holy bathing, fasting, and standing in water for a long time waiting for the sun to emerge from the smog-filled sky. But these rituals in polluted waters can lead to many diseases.
Image: PTI
Image: Altaf Qadri/AP
Image: Altaf Qadri/AP
Image: Altaf Qadri/AP
Insanitary measures – People not only dive in this filthy water but also tend to collect it for drinking purposes.
Image: Oneindia
Drinking source? – Yamuna is the main source of water in Delhi, contrarily it is one of the most polluted rivers in the country and in the world.
Image: Manish Swarup/AP
Unheard prayers – Even the almighty doesn’t seem to reciprocate to the prayers made in a toxin-filled environment.
Image: Kamal Kishore/PTI
Snowing waste – This snow-like stinky foam in Yamuna is full of industrial waste, where people tend to throw all health concerns in the air and play in this waste.
Image: Abhinav Saha/The Indian Express
Futile efforts – Efforts made by authorities to clean the river get neutralized after the deposition of industrial and commercial wastes.
Image: PTI
Ecologically dead – Yamuna River is considered “ecologically dead” by experts as no life thrives in its contaminated waters.
Image: Manish Swarup/AP
Warning! – Delhi’s Yamuna is highly contaminated! Therefore, the river needs your help for its intoxication. Alas, the warnings have no impact on the ignorant.
Image: The Indian Express
The river is seeking for salvation from the tormenting water and industrial pollution, which is nowhere in sight for the foreseeable future.
Image: PTI
Gone case – Once alive and fresh, Yamuna has been killed long ago in Delhi. It’s not just the waste from religious or festival rituals that pollutes the river; most of the waste comes from industrial setups across the river banks.
Image: PTI
Awaited blessings – Devotees present offerings to the sun god to receive blessings, but they are only getting diseases in return for standing in the contaminated waters for prolonged periods of time.
Image: PTI
Image: PTI
Image: PTI
Celebrations in the Night – Worshipers gather at the edge of the river just before dawn for the Chhath rites.
Image: Saumya Khandelwal
Image: Saumya Khandelwal
Negligence at its best! – People seem to enjoy this toxic foam despite knowing its health hazards.
Image: Altaf Qadri/AP
Image: Altaf Qadri/AP
Image: Altaf Qadri/AP
Image: Saumya Khandelwal
Image: Altaf Qadri/AP
COVID alert! – Experts believe the noxious water can also spread COVID-19, in mass celebrations like Chhath.
Image: Altaf Qadri/AP
Polluters- People are the biggest polluters, not only do they ignore the cleanliness quotient of the river but are also the reason behind its filth.
Image: Saumya Khandelwal
Image: Saumya Khandelwal
Lethal blanket – The river is completely covered in toxic foam created by industrial waste and sewage.
Image: Saumya Khandelwal
STOP! – This beyond redemption foamed river has been exploited for a long time and it is high time that we bring it back to life and its ancient glory.
Image: Altaf Qadri/AP
