The water of the sacred Ganga and Yamuna is not fit for bathing. An abnormally high level of fecal bacteria has been detected in the waters of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Triveni Sangam, which can cause severe health hazards for people bathing in it. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported on February 3 that the Ganga and Yamuna rivers are highly polluted, raising concerns as millions of devotees continue to bathe in the rivers during the Mahakumbh Mela. The Mahakumbh Mela started on January 13 in Prayagraj, and according to the Yogi Adityanath government, over 500 million devotees have already participated in the ritual bathing. Despite the severe water pollution, the ritual bathing will continue in Prayagraj until February 4, and authorities may extend the fair schedule due to the unprecedented influx of devotees. The massive discharge of human waste into the river has caused extreme pollution in the holy waters of the Ganga and Yamuna. The CPCB stated that the fecal bacteria levels increase when human and animal waste mixes with water.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has also expressed concern over the excessive presence of fecal coliform bacteria in the Ganga and Yamuna. On average, around 3.5 million devotees bathe in these highly polluted waters every day. Bathing in such water can lead to diarrhea, typhoid, gastroenteritis, and various skin diseases. The CPCB’s report states that the water of the Ganga and Yamuna at Prayagraj, where the Mahakumbh Mela is being held, is not suitable for bathing. The water does not meet the required Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels to be considered safe for bathing.
The level of fecal bacteria in water is measured using the coliform count, which is represented as Most Probable Number (MPN) per 100 milliliters. According to a 2024 committee report by the Union Ministry of Urban Development, water with 500 to 2,500 MPN per 100 milliliters is considered safe for bathing. However, the CPCB’s findings reveal alarming levels of pollution:
- Near the Shastri Bridge over the Ganga, the coliform count is 11,000 MPN per 100 milliliters.
- At the Triveni Sangam, the pollution level soars to 77,900 MPN per 100 milliliters.
Two kilometers downstream from the Sangam, the pollution remains dangerously high. - In the Yamuna before it merges with the Ganga, the coliform count is 4,900 MPN per 100 milliliters.
These samples were collected on February 3, right after the Basant Panchami bathing ritual, when millions of people had gathered in Prayagraj. The enormous human waste mixing with the river further escalated pollution levels. However, even before this massive gathering, the water in the same region was already critically polluted