Toxic Foam Floats on India's Yamuna River as Crowds Gather for Ritual Bathing

Toxic foam was seen floating down the Yamuna River in New Delhi on Wednesday, November 10, as crowds of Hindus lined the banks for ritual bathing.

The Delhi government said it was attempting to remove the toxic foam from the surface of the river, as people bathed as part of the annual Chhath Puja festival.

Video by Ashish Sharma, taken near the city’s New Yamuna Bridge, shows large groups on the banks of the river as foam covers the water.

According to the local reports, the layer of foam on the river was caused in part by industrial pollution. Local officials said they were employing boats, spraying water, and erecting barriers to try to ameliorate pollution levels.

The Chhath Puja festival sees locals conduct ritual bathing in the waterway, the Hindustan Times said. Credit: Ashish Sharma via Storyful