Business · India Bureau
Toxic chromium found in Nashik groundwater ahead of Kumbh Mela
Laboratory tests have detected dangerously high levels of hexavalent chromium in groundwater near Nashik's Kumbh Mela site, raising health concerns for millions of expected pilgrims. The contamination has already caused health issues among local residents and is seeping into the Godavari river.
LSN India ·
Groundwater samples from Ambad in Maharashtra's Nashik district show acute toxic contamination, with hexavalent chromium levels reaching 50.3 mg/L—more than 1,000 times the Bureau of Indian Standards' drinking water safety limit of 0.05 mg/L, according to environmental researchers monitoring water quality in the region.
The contaminated groundwater has triggered skin disorders and other health complications among residents in the affected area. More concerning, the toxic water is filtering into the Godavari river through local drainage systems, potentially spreading the contamination across a wider geographical area.
The contamination poses a significant public health risk as the affected river stretch includes the ceremonial ghats where the Kumbh Mela pilgrimage is scheduled to take place. The gathering, which attracts millions of devotees from across India and abroad, typically involves ritual bathing and water contact, potentially exposing visitors to hazardous levels of the carcinogenic heavy metal.
Environmental networks tracking water quality and river health have flagged the issue as urgent, calling for immediate intervention to address the toxic contamination before the major religious gathering begins. The source and extent of the hexavalent chromium pollution remain subjects of investigation, with industrial activity in the region suspected as a potential contributor.