Gaya: Large crowds gathered at the Gayaji dam in Gaya district on Saturday after water was released from the reservoir, with people entering the riverbed to catch fish despite warnings from authorities.
The district administration had released water from the rubber dam on Friday night as part of a cleaning exercise. As water levels receded, fish became visible, prompting hundreds of people — including youths, children and elderly residents — to converge on the site early the next morning.
Witnesses said people arrived carrying nets and containers, collecting fish and repeatedly entering the river to catch more. Officials had issued advisories urging people to stay away, but these were widely ignored.
Authorities said the water release was carried out to facilitate the cleaning of the dam and surrounding ghats ahead of the monsoon. The reservoir had become polluted due to the accumulation of flowers, leaves and other materials used in religious rituals.
The dam, constructed at a cost of Rs 334 crore on the Falgu River, plays a significant role in enabling year-round performance of Hindu rituals such as tarpan and pind daan, which are central to Gaya’s religious importance.
Pappu Pandey, a Gayapal Panda (priest), said the condition of the water had deteriorated significantly due to waste accumulation. “One can clearly see the extent of the filth mixed with the water. This accumulation of waste had been causing significant distress. Pilgrims were forced to contend with various unpleasant conditions, and those performing Pind Daan rituals were even reluctant to go near the dam. Thousands of pilgrims visit Devghat daily to perform the rituals of Pind Daan; however, the foul stench and decay had become a source of great misery. Now that the water has been released from the dam, proper cleaning and sanitation work can finally be undertaken,” he said.
Officials said cleaning operations are now underway, though concerns remain over crowd management and public safety following the incident.
