No Covid traces in Ganga after bodies found floating: CSIR lab

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 4

Concerns over contamination of Ganga due to disposal of bodies at the height of the second Covid wave have been dispelled with a top toxicology lab saying no traces of the disease-causing virus were found in the river waters after the bodies were recovered.

The government has in its report put the total number of bodies found floating in the Ganga at 50 and said 410 bodies were buried along the river banks over the span of one year.

The CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, tasked with the detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus contamination of the Ganga after several bodies were flushed out of the river at selected sites in May, submitted its report to the government this week and found all parameters of the river’s health intact.

“The water samples collected from the Ganga at Kannauj, Unnao, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Buxar, Hamirpur, Ghazipur and Ballia were analysed for detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus in the Covid testing facility of the CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology, Lucknow. Of 49 samples analysed, none was found positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus infection,” the institute said in its interim report to the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

The report also states the pH levels of the Ganga ranged between 7.02 and 8.49 and were found within the prescribed limits at all the sites. “Dissolved oxygen in the river was within range so was biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand,” the interim report added.

The discarded bodies had raised an alarm across the country when the second wave was at its peak.

Minister of State for Jal Shakti Rattan Lal Kataria said the findings came as a relief for every Indian who revered the holy river Ganga.

On the disposal of bodies along the banks, Kataria said the practice was integral to the faith of many communities and the government had included the construction of crematoriums and ghats as a component under the “Namami Gange” project. Over 45 crematoriums and 149 ghats had already been constructed, he said.

“During May, the National Mission for Clean Ganga swung into action to sound local authorities and help with safe disposal of bodies to ensure dignity to the deceased. The states responded by improving enforcement alongside the river and helping families with finances to perform the last rites,” Kataria said.