Dikhow River changes colour, panic grips residents

OUR CORRESPONDENT

SIVASAGAR: Strange changes in the colour of the water of the Dikhow River over the last couple of days have triggered fear of contamination among residents of Sivasagar who depend on its water for domestic and agricultural purposes.

The residents suspect that the contaminants are deposits of the coal mines near the upper reaches of the Dikhow River in Nagaland, getting eroded into the Dikhow River whenever it rains, as the river rises in the Zunheboto district in Nagaland and flows through Sivasagar district of Assam and joins the Brahmaputra at Dikhowmukh.

On April 13, hundreds of dead fish were spotted floating on the surface of Dikhow River and soon after, in Sivasagar, the water changed its colour to blue and then to green. The authorities have collected the water sample for analysis. Meanwhile, several organizations in the Sivasagar district have demanded the authorities concerned an inquiry into the matter. They also fear that some miscreants may sell the dead fish which may cause serious health issues.

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