Formalin spill poisons Jatinga River after tanker crash

Guwahati: A tanker hauling formalin crashed near Jatinga Bridge on Thursday, dumping the toxic chemical into the water. The wreck happened at 4 pm on National Highway-27 along the Haflong-Silchar route. Two tanker chambers ruptured during the smash, leaking the industrial chemical into a stream that feeds the Jatinga River.

The District Disaster Management Authority of Dima Hasao immediately hit the panic button. They issued a stern warning to anyone living between Jatinga Bridge and Harangajao. The directive is simple. Stop using the river water for drinking, cooking, or feeding livestock. Officials say exposure puts humans and animals at risk of severe health issues.

Authorities are monitoring the contamination levels. They expect the ban to last at least two days. The DDMA has urged the public to strictly comply with the advisory until further notice while authorities monitor the situation and undertake necessary measures to mitigate the impact of the chemical spill.