Samba: In the last four days, Mansar Lake in the Samba district has witnessed a continuous death of fish, over 2,000 so far. This ongoing situation has become a cause for alarm among the local populace.
Wildlife Department personnel are actively involved in the daily extraction and burying them at safe places. The swift removal is crucial to prevent pollution and the potential outbreak of an epidemic, as leaving the fish exposed poses a significant risk.
The significant mortality of fish has sparked deep concern within the local community, leading them to speculate that an underlying disease may be responsible for the mass deaths in the lake. While such incidents have occurred previously in Mansar Lake, the current episode has marked a substantial increase, causing heightened anxiety among the residents.
Bishamber Singh and Surinsar Mansar Range Officers from the Wildlife Department reported that the sudden deaths commenced four days ago, initially with a small number.
Despite early expectations that the situation would not escalate, the mortality rate continued to rise.
“After that, we informed higher-ups at the Fisheries Department and discovered that the cause of death was linked to the consumption of hailstones during the rains,” they explained.
“To prevent the spread of disease due to the foul smell, we are ensuring the burial of all deceased fish by digging pits at a distance so that no disease spreads due to the bad smell,” reports quoted them as saying.