Thousands of fish in the Umtrew River in Byrnihat, Ri-Bhoi, were found dead in the water today, sparking fear among the public of water contamination and environmental damage.
This is not the first incident of its kind in the river and residents living along its banks suspect that the fish died due to the release of poisonous substances into the water from nearby factories.
Locals often consume the fish in the river for food, which has added to the fears of the general public. The fish that were found dead include those of all sizes, from the very small to the largest.
Until the filing of this report, the authorities, even those tasked with the protection of the environment, had come to investigate the cause of the mass death of fish.
