Patna: Bihar’s Dairy, Fisheries and Animal Resources Department has issued a public advisory after reports of unidentified and unusual fish reaching parts of the state along with floodwaters from Nepal. The department has urged people to exercise caution and avoid consuming such fish until their identity and safety are established.
The advisory notes that floodwaters can carry fish from rivers, ponds, reservoirs and other water bodies over considerable distances. During such movement, fish may also come into contact with sewage, dead animals, waste and other contaminants, raising concerns about possible bacterial, viral or fungal contamination.
The department has appealed to the public not to catch, buy, sell or consume unfamiliar fish found in floodwaters. It has also advised people not to treat an unidentified fish as fit for consumption merely because it resembles a familiar local variety.
Authorities have asked residents to remain alert for any unusual symptoms after eating such fish. In case of vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, dizziness or other abnormal symptoms, people have been advised to seek medical attention promptly.
The advisory further calls for information about such fish to be shared with the district fisheries authorities or local administration, allowing officials to examine and respond to reports at the local level.
As an important aspect of flood management, the state government is monitoring food safety, animal resources and emerging environmental risks that may accompany floodwaters across state and international borders, in addition to protecting lives and infrastructure.
BI Bureu
