Toxic white foam seen again on Indrayani river at Alandi ahead of Sanjeevan Samadhi festival

Pimpri Chinchwad: Thick layers of toxic white foam have been seen floating on the surface of the Indrayani river in the Alandi stretch. The sight has brought the river's growing pollution back into focus. The river is held sacred by lakhs of devotees.

The Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Sanjeevan Samadhi festival is approaching in Alandi, and a large gathering of devotees is expected. Local residents are troubled by the state of the river. Many devotees go to the river on the occasion and perform achaman, that is, take sips of its water. With the foam clearly visible on the surface, people are asking whether contact with the dirty water could harm their health.

Residents say that despite the river's religious and local importance, no firm step has been taken to stop the problem. That is why the foam keeps returning.

A woman from the area said the authorities should find out where the sewage entering the river is coming from and bring it under control. She also demanded that water samples be taken without delay, tested and the results made public. In her view, strict action should be taken against anyone found releasing contaminated water into the river in violation of environmental rules.

Residents said the Indrayani is not just a water source. It is part of the faith of lakhs of devotees and is tied to the daily lives of people living nearby. They have appealed to the authorities to establish the exact cause of the repeatedly appearing white foam and to act against those who pollute the river.

For now, people are watching what the authorities do about the river's condition before the festival, because the number of devotees performing achaman will rise with the crowds, and the question of health risks from the foamy water will grow with it.