Poisonous chemical in north Kashmir stream kills over 15k trout fish

Langate, Feb 02: Authorities in North Kashmir on Friday issued an advisory asking people to refrain from consuming water from Nallah’s and lift pumps.
The advisory came after thousands of Trout fish were found dead this morning at a farm in Langate area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
An official said that more than 15,000 trout fish have been found dead. “The cause of the death on such a large scale is being ascertained but prima facie it seems the handiwork of the mischevious elements who might have sprayed some poisonous chemicals into the Mawar Nallah,” he said.
He added that investigation has been launched by police as they have even picked up the samples from the Nallah.
Showkat Ahmad, Additional Director Fisheries Kupwara, as per news agency CNS, said the lethal effect of the chemical sprayed into the stream could be gauged from the fact that within few minutes over 15,000 trout fish died while some of them were overweight.
In the advisory issued by authorities people from at least 24 villages have been asked not to consume water from the stream till it is cleaned. People have also been asked not to consume water from lift pumps including Sherhama, Pohrupet and Panditpura.
A team of experts from Srinagar rushed to spot to examine the poisonous water and help determine the exact cause of mortality of fish, said an official. (With inputs from CNS)