Utter pollution of water at the mouth of Mangala river near Puri town has started taking a severe toll on aquatic species mainly fishes and unless measures are taken immediately the crisis might take an irreparable proportion. Dead bodies of tonnes of fishes have been spotted drifting along the river mouth causing pan among both the fishermen communities. Bloated bodies of fish and other aquatic animals continue to drift along the polluted water bodies and creeks. Similar kind of scenes had been reported some time back. The scene of en-masse of death of fishes has recurred again. The matter had earlier been brought to the notice of the administration but no action has been taken so far. Unless measures are undertaken by the district administration and the water resources department to control the pollution of Mangala river at its mouth it might spell a disaster for the aquatic animals as well as the fishermen communities and the common man in Puri town. Toxic effluents released by hotels and clusters of flats developed by Puri Konark Development Authority and private builders have become the messenger of death for fish and aquatic animals in the water channels and creeks near Puri, an engineer of the water resources department said. Reports said that a team of officials of the State Pollution Control Board has collected water samples to ascertain the exact cause of death of tonnes of fishes in River Mangala. It is worth recollecting that world famous sand artist Sudarshan Pattanaik had recently stage hunger strike to protest pollution of Bankimuhan near Puri beach following which the state government was compelled to take measures to clean the beach. Water samples are being collected and it will be sent for laboratory test to ascertain the exact cause of fish death. It’s too early to conclude that it is pollution-induced death, said an official of State Pollution Control Board.