Wed Feb 19 14:59:22 UTC 2025: ## Kumbh Mela Water Quality Dispute: Chief Minister Rejects Contamination Report

**Prayagraj, India** – The chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, has dismissed a government report indicating dangerously high levels of fecal contamination in the Sangam, the sacred confluence of rivers at the Kumbh Mela. The report, from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), found coliform levels in the Ganges and Yamuna rivers to be 1,400 and 660 times above acceptable limits respectively. Despite this, Adityanath insisted the water is safe not only for bathing but also for the Hindu ritual of *aachman* (drinking river water).

Over 565 million people have bathed in the Sangam since the Kumbh Mela began on January 13th. While health activists and environmentalists have expressed concerns, the Chief Minister attributed the high coliform levels to factors like sewage leakage and animal waste, claiming levels are within acceptable standards after purification measures. He accused the opposition of spreading misinformation.

This controversy comes amidst other challenges facing the Kumbh Mela’s organization. At least 30 people died in a stampede earlier in the festival, and another 18 perished in a separate incident at New Delhi Railway Station. The Kumbh Mela, a six-week religious gathering, concludes on February 26th.

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