Water supply shut down in Sulah after Neugal river poisoning scare

Panic gripped residents of the Sulah area on Wednesday after hundreds of fish were found dead in the Neugal river, allegedly due to poisoning by unidentified miscreants. According to locals, the incident came to light when a massive number of dead fish were spotted floating downstream. The shocking sight quickly drew crowds of villagers and passersby, who condemned the act as a grave environmental crime and demanded immediate accountability.

Speaking to The Tribune, several residents noted that the deliberate poisoning not only devastated local aquatic life but also triggered a major public health scare. The Neugal river is a primary source of drinking water for the region, feeding multiple supply schemes managed by the Jal Shakti Department that service numerous local villages. Fearing that the contamination could pose a lethal threat to human life, locals urged both the police and the Jal Shakti Department to launch an immediate investigation to track down the culprits. They also demanded urgent scientific testing of water samples to determine the nature and extent of the toxin, and to verify if the water was still safe for domestic use. “Those responsible for such a reckless act must face stringent legal punishment,” a local resident emphasised, noting that tampering with a natural water source carries catastrophic environmental and health risks.

Meanwhile, Sandeep Chaudhary, Executive Engineer of the Jal Shakti Department, confirmed that authorities acted promptly upon receiving the news. As a precautionary measure, all drinking water supply schemes dependent on the Neugal khad had been temporarily suspended, he said. Chaudhary added that further action would be determined once laboratory results of the water samples were analysed and the situation was fully assessed. The incident has sparked widespread outrage across the region, prompting urgent calls for stricter monitoring and better protection of local natural water bodies.