Those who have been to Bangalore, in south India, know that the capital city of Karnataka enjoys a tropical savanna climate. However, it seems that certain parts of the city are receiving snowfall, not of actual snow but a kind of whitish foam floating from a local lake. Years of dumping of hazardous chemicals and sewage, into the water, has finally given rise to a toxic froth that is rapidly taking over the city, polluting the air and creating traffic congestion.

Stretching over an area of around 9,000-acre, the Bellandur lake is the largest lake in Bangalore, a city generally regarded as India’s technology capital. Unfortunately, over the years, improper disposal of sewage and industrial waste materials into the water has made the lake extremely polluted. What is more, this virulent cocktail of chemical pollutants has been producing large amounts of snowy froth, which is being carried to the air and onto the streets via wind and rain.

Situated near a major road leading to the city’s main airport, the foam-covered lake has been causing traffic congestion, due to reduced visibility. For several months now, the locals have had to endure the horrible smell emanating from the water body. In the past, the lake, abounding in various flammable chemicals, oil, detergent and grease, caught fire on two separate occasions.

Several appeals have been made to the concerned authorities regarding the issue, with the earliest petition dating back to 2000. Sadly, nothing substantial seems to have been done to alleviate the problems faced by the local people. The following photographs were taken by Debasish Ghosh, an IT professional currently residing in Bangalore.

Via: BBC News