Large-scale fish deaths reported over the past three to four days in a historic community pond at Gajpuriya Nepali (Phukan Nagar) under the Moran Revenue Circle in Assam’s Dibrugarh district have prompted residents to demand an investigation into the cause of the incident.
According to local residents, the pond, attached to a public Namghar and associated with around 65 families in the locality, has witnessed the death of an estimated two to six quintals of fish. The dead fish reportedly weighed between 2 kg and 7 kg each.
Residents said fish have been dying continuously over the last few days, raising concerns over possible contamination of the pond water. The pond, regarded as a site of historical and cultural importance, has long been linked to the area’s social, religious and community life. Locals said it is historically known as “Rajar Dinor Pukhuri” (King’s Pond) and “Phukan Pukhuri.”
They alleged that despite the incident being reported several days ago, no official from the Fisheries Department had visited the site to inspect the pond or assess the situation.
Although the exact cause of the fish deaths remains unknown, residents suspect that water contamination, toxic substances or another unidentified factor may have triggered the incident. They said only a scientific examination of the pond water could determine the actual cause.
The residents have urged the district administration and the Fisheries Department to collect water samples, conduct a thorough investigation and take necessary measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The unexplained fish deaths have caused concern in the locality, with residents awaiting prompt intervention from the authorities.
