Kumbh Mela: Sangam waters are unsafe; CPCB revises report after bacteria scare.

At the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, UP, where the divine Ganga meets the Yamuna and the sacred Saraswati, the water is currently deemed "unsafe" for bathing due to a high level of biological oxygen demand (BOD), according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). 

With the Maha Kumbh Mela nearing its end in just one week, the number of devotees flocking to the Triveni Sangam to take a holy dip has surged. This maha kumbh festival has already seen over 52 crore devotees bathing at the confluence. 

"BOD, a key parameter to determine water quality, refers to the amount of oxygen required by aerobic microorganisms to break down the  organic material in a water body, especially a river" A higher BOD level suggests a higher amount of organic matter in the water. "River water is considered ‘fit’ for bathing if the BOD level is less than 3mg per litre."

CPCB's data has indicated that the Sangam water presently surpasses this particular limit.

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