In a concerning incident, a significant number of lifeless fish were discovered at Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh on Monday. The grim discovery was made in the area stretching from Suicide Point to the Regulatory Ends. Authorities swiftly responded to the situation, with teams from the UT Animal Husbandry and Fishery Department, as well as the UT Wildlife Department, visiting the site to initiate a thorough investigation.
A local resident who witnessed the distressing scene remarked, «One or two dead fish were spotted floating in Sukhna Lake yesterday (Sunday), but today (Monday) the number of dead fish is alarming… Last year, dead tortoises were also discovered in Sukhna Lake.»
Dr. Kanwardeep Singh, the Director of the Animal Husbandry and Fishery Department, has not ruled out the possibility of intentional disposal of deceased fish into the lake. He highlighted that while instances of fish mortality in the lake are not uncommon, it raises concerns when such incidents occur during periods of relatively lower water levels.
Dr. Singh explained, «Fish mortality increases during rains when water levels rise, and oxygen levels decrease due to the heavy presence of mud in the water. We have instances of people being caught throwing dead fish into the lake. Our team is working diligently to ascertain the exact reason for the deaths.»
UT Chief Wildlife Warden TC Nautiyal expressed his concern, stating, «We are looking into the matter.» The joint efforts of the Animal Husbandry and Fishery Department and the Wildlife Department aim to unravel the mystery behind the sudden spike in fish deaths at Sukhna Lake. The investigation will delve into environmental factors, potential foul play, and any contributing human activities to determine the precise cause of this unfortunate incident.