Thousands of dead fish washed ashore in Somavaradahalla rivulet near Punaje village in Tirthahalli taluk.
The dead fish were noticed on Thursday. Since the basin of the rivulet is considered holy, fishing is not allowed. Following the mass death, a foul smell is emanating from the river basin and the gram panchayat has deputed five workers to clean up the area. Locals suspect poisoning of the water by miscreants as a cause for the mass death.
Revathi, Assistant Director, Department of Fisheries, said that the samples of water and the dead fish have been sent for analysis. The scarcity of oxygen caused by a depletion in the water level in the rivulet may be a cause.
