India, April 22 -- New Delhi

Thousands of dead fish have been floating along the Najafgarh drain, Delhi's most-polluted stormwater drain that empties into the Yamuna, near southwest Delhi's Rawta village over at least the past five days, with villagers alleging the water colour-usually, a dark shade of grey-has been darker and murkier.

The incident has been logged near the Dhansa regulator, locals said.

"The drain is always polluted and grey in colour. In recent days, the water is darker and smells strongly. The deaths are likely due to effluents being released by industries on the Haryana side," said Ravi Phalswal, a farmer in the area, who said the water in the drain has a visible stench, possibly from industrial effluents.

"Since f...