Delhi's sacred river a foam bath of toxins

The Yamuna River in Delhi, revered as a mother goddess, is choked by a toxic foam that blankets its surface, a stark visual of the capital's severe pollution crisis. Activists like Pankaj Kumar, a former bank official who now dedicates his life to combating water pollution, describe the scene as deadly.

“

We are killing the river that we worship as our mother.

"We are killing the river that we worship as our mother," Kumar stated, pointing to the chemical foam that floats like ice. He warns that the water is unsafe to touch, risking skin irritation, and dangerous to drink, potentially causing diarrhea, cholera, and other gastrointestinal diseases.

Kumar leads the Earth Warriors India organization, which mobilizes volunteers for river cleanups. Despite their efforts, cleaning the Yamuna, which flows from the Himalayas and supplies 40% of Delhi's water, is a monumental task. The river becomes a sewer by the time it reaches the capital, yet it holds deep spiritual significance for millions who perform religious rituals on its banks.

“

The water is so polluted that one should not even touch it. There is a risk of skin irritation. And if you drink it, as some do, you can get diarrhea, cholera and other stomach diseases.

Aisha Saroha, a volunteer, expressed frustration with the disregard for the river's sanctity. "Yamuna is like a god to us, and people come down here to worship it. Then they leave their trash here. I don't understand what is wrong with them, you don't treat your mother like that," she said. Volunteers collect discarded clothing, floral offerings, statues, syringes, and even beds, some of which are offerings for the deceased according to Hindu beliefs, intended to free the soul.

“

Yamuna is like a god to us and people come down here to worship it. Then they leave their trash here. I don't understand what is wrong with them, you don't treat your mother like that.