AMRITSAR: In a massive ecological disaster, a large number of fish were killed in the Beas on Thursday after molasses from a sugar factory leaked into the river.

The presence of molasses, a byproduct in sugar factories used for alcohol production, has affected over 30 km of the river.

Amritsar deputy commissioner Kamaldeep Singh Sangha said that molasses stored in a factory at Kiri Afghana village of Punjab’s Gurdaspur district had accidentally leaked into the river, resulting in a massive dip in the oxygen levels of the river, killing thousands of fish.

Punjab minister OP Soni, who visited the affected area along with Amritsar Lok Sabha member Gurjit Aujla ordered a probe into the incident and issued an order to shut down the sugar mill. “I have marked an inquiry into the incident,” said Soni, adding that water samples were being collected from various places in the river to check the impact of the disaster.

Sangha, who has been camping on the banks of the Beas since getting news about leakage of molasses into the river, said he also got water released from Pong and Ranjit Sagar Dams. The release of fresh water into the Beas will also help contain the problem. “Water sample reports are better after the release of water from the dams,” said Sangha.

The administrations of various Punjab districts including Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur have issued advisory warning people against eating and selling dead fish from the Beas after some residents of the villages along the river were seen picking up dead fish.

Soni said teams from wildlife department, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Guru Nanak Dev University and other concerned departments were immediately informed about the disaster, but they didn’t find any toxin in the river water. “Lack of oxygen in the water has been determined as the cause of death of the fish,” said the minister.

Sangha said the water samples had been sent to the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Ludhiana for complete chemical analysis. “Disturbing the ecological balance is a serious offense which attracts strict action,” warned Aujla.

