Strange fish in Bihar floodwaters spark health alert, people advised not to eat

Bihar has warned residents not to eat unusual fish reportedly carried in by floodwaters from Nepal. The advisory follows illness reports and concerns over contamination during the ongoing flood crisis.Nepal floods: Bihar warns against eating unusual fish washed in with floodwaters (Photo: PTI)The Bihar government has issued an advisory urging people to avoid consuming unidentified or unusually appearing fish reportedly washed into parts of the state with floodwaters from Nepal. The advisory was issued by the Fisheries Division of the Department of Dairy, Fisheries and Animal Resources after reports that some people fell ill after consuming such fish.The department said fish can be swept out of ponds, rivers, lakes and other water bodies during floods and carried over long distances. Such fish may come into prolonged contact with contaminated drains, dead animals and corpses, increasing the risk of contamination by bacteria, viruses and fungi.The advisory urged people not to consume any unidentified or unusual-looking fish, particularly those caught from floodwaters. Citizens have also been asked to avoid buying, selling or using such fish for food.The department stressed that unfamiliar fish should not be considered fit for consumption unless they have been properly identified and their safety confirmed by the concerned authorities. People have also been advised to avoid consuming fish caught from floodwaters until conditions stabilise and naturally occurring contaminants and disease-causing agents subside. HEALTH WARNING ISSUED AFTER FISH CONSUMPTIONAnyone who develops vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, dizziness, breathing difficulty or any other unusual symptoms after consuming such fish should immediately seek medical advice at the nearest health centre or hospital, the department said.People who spot such fish have been asked to inform the district fisheries officer or local administration. The department also urged citizens not to pay heed to rumours circulating on social media and to prioritise their safety.INDIA RESCUES 163 NATIONALS FROM NEPAL Meanwhile, India has continued its rescue and relief operations in coordination with Nepalese authorities following the devastating flash floods. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday that 163 Indian nationals had been rescued so far.MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared the update in a post on X. He also provided details of a 19-member specialised Indian forensics team that began work in Kathmandu on Sunday, as well as a tunnel rescue team deployed in Nepal as part of India's ongoing assistance.The Nepal disaster was triggered on August 26 when a glacier collapse sent a massive surge of ice, rock and mud through the country's border region with China. The floods have killed more than 1,000 people, while thousands remain missing and rescue operations continue across affected areas.- EndsPublished By: Priyanka KumariPublished On: Sep 1, 2026 23:29 IST