Chandigarh: A large number of dead fish were found floating in Beas on May 17 after molasses from a sugar factory leaked into the river, an official said.
Residents noticed the dead freshwater fish in the river in Punjab's Beas town, about 40 km from the state capital of Amritsar, and informed the authorities.
Officials, including Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar Kamaldeep Singh Sangha, and experts from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and wildlife department visited the site to take stock of the situation.
"According to experts, molasses, which leaked from a sugar factory here in Beas, mixed with the river water and reduced the oxygen levels. This led to the death of fish," Sangha said.
He added that the PPCB had ordered the closure of the factory.
Molasses leakage also changed the colour of the river water to rust brown.
"We have also collected water samples and will get them tested to ascertain if something else may also have been there," said Sangha.
The district commissioner said it was feared that the molasses may have spread to 30-35 km of river water area.
Freshwater from the Pong Dam was released into Beas to flush out the pollutants.
"With the release of fresh water, the situation is much better now," Sangha said.
Authorities have also issued an advisory asking residents not to eat or sell the dead fish.
