Fisheries officials say fungal and bacterial infections, triggered by contaminated and oxygen-depleted water, caused fish deaths at the Sherbagh garden ponds.
Feb 27, Srinagar: Mass fish deaths at the historic Nagbal springs in Sherbagh garden have been attributed to fungal and bacterial infections caused by highly contaminated and oxygen-depleted water, fisheries officials said.
Indigenous cold-water fish, mainly Schizothorax species, have been dying since Feb. 15 in two spring-fed ponds and connecting channels at Sherbagh garden, raising concern among residents and prompting an inspection by the Fisheries Department.
The ponds primarily receive discharge from the Indernag (Andernag)-Nagbal sulphur springs located at the foothills, where a temple and a gurdwara stand within the premises. Additional water seeps from springs within the garden before flowing through the town’s outer channels and draining into the Aaripat, a tributary of the Jhelum.
Assistant Director of Fisheries Anantnag Shabir Ahmad said the fish mortality was due to fungal infestation and bacterial infection.
“The mass fish death cannot be attributed to a single factor. It is a multifactorial problem, primarily driven by oxygen stress, low dissolved oxygen and excessive nutrient buildup, which weakened the fish and made them vulnerable to infections,” Ahmad said.
He said dissolved oxygen levels were low while carbon dioxide levels were high. The pond water, he added, was heavily contaminated with plastic, polythene waste and garbage.
“Even the water from the source — the Nagbal springs of Andernag that flow down to the Sherbagh ponds — is highly contaminated, with toilet waste also entering it,” Ahmad said.
He said water stagnation has further created conditions conducive to fungal and bacterial growth. “Cold-water fish species survive only when water parameters are optimal,” he said.
Ahmad said the cause of mortality was similar to fish deaths reported at the Martand springs in Mattan last December, where oxygen stress and nutrient buildup were identified as key factors. However, he said restoration at Sherbagh would take considerable time due to the high level of contamination.
Muhammad Yasin, project officer in the Fisheries Department, said human excreta, detergents and chemicals used for washing clothes in Andernag flow directly into the Nagbal springs and ponds, adversely affecting aquatic life.
“The death of Schizothorax is an indication that the water is highly polluted,” he said.
Yasin urged authorities to examine why a latrine outlet in Andernag discharges directly into the water and to repair the defunct drainage system. He also appealed to residents to stop dumping waste into the ponds and channels.
“Some people dispose of rice, lentils, plastic and other household waste into the water, contributing to contamination and deterioration of water quality,” he said, adding that unnecessary feeding of fish with rice worsens nutrient enrichment.
“Our department provides medicated feed, so additional feeding is unnecessary. Nutrient enrichment accelerates stress in spring-fed systems and creates conditions conducive to disease outbreaks,” Yasin said.
On remedial measures, Ahmad said a preliminary report has been uploaded to the National Surveillance Program for Aquatic Animal Disease portal and that the department has sought scientific analysis of water samples from SKAUST-K, Rangil, Ganderbal.
He said disinfectants, including potassium permanganate, have been used in the ponds, and a joint cleaning drive was carried out by the Fisheries Department and Municipal Council authorities.
“For now, we have administered antiseptic treatment in the water and will provide oral medication in the coming days,” Yasin said, adding that samples have been sent for laboratory analysis.
Residents said Sherbagh garden and its springs have deteriorated over the years due to official neglect and lack of civic sense.
Sajad Hakeem, president of the Traders Association, said extensive concretization work carried out about 14 years ago around the ponds affected natural water flow and oxygen levels.
“They removed natural pebbles, carried out tile work, eliminated green patches and sealed natural pores along the edges that served as fish habitats,” Hakeem said, adding that rerouting of old waterways led to stagnation and pollution.
Another resident, Bilal Ahmad, said poor maintenance has diminished the garden’s appeal.
“Neither the Floriculture Department nor any other department is properly maintaining the garden and its springs. In the absence of oversight, people wash clothes using detergents and dump waste,” he said.
Residents have called for restoration of Sherbagh garden and its springs, even if it requires temporary closure to facilitate conservation measures.