Impact of mass bathing during Ardhkumbh on water quality status of river Ganga.

The study highlighted that mass bathing during Ardhkumbh caused the changes in the river water quality and indicated that water is not fit for either drinking or bathing purposes. The presence of faecal coliforms in water also hints at the potential presence of pathogenic microorganisms, which might cause water borne diseases. Although the water was found to be safe with respect to dissolved oxygen content, the values of BOD and COD exceeded the maximum permissible limit during bathing.