Yamuna is still covered with toxic foam as devotees prep for Chhath

A thick layer of toxic foam continued to cover the Yamuna's surface on Wednesday - a day before devotees take dip in water bodies as part of the Chhath Puja festival - with large chunks of froth seen floating past Kalindi Kunj, making mockery of efforts by agencies to reduce the pollution levels in the river.

- Paras Singh

The continued presence of the foam led to a blame game, with the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) claiming that the froth was a result of discharge of silt from the Agra canal, while the Uttar Pradesh government dismissed the allegations.

Separately, the Delhi government issued a formal notification on Wednesday, declaring November 7 as a holiday.

The formation of toxic froth in the Yamuna is an annual phenomenon during winters, and experts say it is an indicator of untreated sewage and industrial pollutants in the river's water.