Bengaluru Lakes Are So Polluted They Are Catching Fire!

For 3 years, Bengaluru's rivers have foamed white with pollution. Last night, the foam on Bellandur lake caught fire.

What causes this foam?

Toxic foam chocking Varthur Lake. #bangalore pic.twitter.com/bIHlIaRkbX

¡ª vinod (@pxy) September 11, 2013

The foam is from toxic sewage runoff, and is caused by the high content of ammonia and phosphate. Bellandur is Benglauru¡¯s largest lake, but instead of using for boating, it is the city¡¯s drainage system, moving sewage to Varthur Lake, where you can also skim off a cloud of foam off the river surface.

@vinaykesari Also, the foam literally overflowed onto the streets. http://t.co/fOlVbc9npd pic.twitter.com/TzVByopHS8

¡ª Gautham Gururaj (@gauthamgururaj) April 29, 2015

Varthur collects the maximum amount of sewage water, most of it untreated. It has already caught fire once before on the 15th. According to what Indian Institute of Sciences Bioengineering expert Durga Madhab Mahapatra told NewsMinute, air particles emanating from the river were causing a burning sensation in people¡¯s eyes. IISC scientists had experienced this on a field trip to the lake that very day.

@BDUTT looks like snow, but no. Its foam tht's climbed to road frm pollution in Varthur Lake, Bangalore. Help? pic.twitter.com/4OdeSIlJe9

¡ª zibijamal (@zibijamal) April 28, 2015

¡°The froth contains bubbles which on bursting forms mist in the air. These particles in the mist maybe chemical or toxic in nature and when it comes in contact with the skin surface or nasal passage, can cause irritation,¡± he told NewsMinute.

If foam works as a fire extinguisher, how did this foam catch fire?

iamin

Analysing samples from Varthur lake revealed what might have caused it. ¡°After the fire dies out, it leaves a black residue. On analysing the remnants, we found that there were traces of oil, grease and other flammable materials which facilitated the spreading of fire,¡± Mahapatra said. The recent rains have also led the foam levels to increase.

A Karnataka State Pollution Control Board officer told New Indian Express that effluents from ¡°nearby industries¡± had led to a build up of combustible methane gas, causing the fire.

@bbmpadmn its a fire in lake foam in bellandur lake. Its burning itself to 2-5 feet height. Help us sir pic.twitter.com/TGxxQ1iLZh

¡ª Vishrut (@mr_vishrut) May 15, 2015

Blame has also been cast on the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for dumping construction material into the river during bridge construction. The small village of Yemalur, 14 km from the city, also saw fire on their local Amanikere lake.

Inputs from Aparajita Ray | TOI | Cover image for representational purpose only