Thousands of fish perished on Monday at Kalkere Kalyani (pond) in Ramamurthy Nagar ward due to high level of water contamination.

Dumping of drums containing hydrophilic softener — used in the textile industry — into the lake is said to have contaminated the water. The drums were earlier kept on the bank of the lake. However, they were dumped into the lake during the immersion of Ganesha idols in the pond.