Avoid 'unknown, unusual' fish from Nepal's flood waters, Govt of Bihar. advisory notices

The Gandak (Narayani in Nepal), Ganga and Kosi rivers and their tributaries have swelled and touched the danger mark at several places in Bihar, especially in the districts bordering Nepal. Fishermen in Saharsha, Gopalganj and Bagaha reported catching giant dolphin-like fish. File | Photo credit: ANI

In the wake of a devastating flash flood in Nepal that has left hundreds dead and many more missing, the Department of Dairying, Fisheries and Animal Resources in Bihar on Tuesday (September 1, 2026) issued a public advisory warning against consuming “unknown and unusual” fish caught from floodwaters flowing into the state’s rivers from Nepal.

In recent days, people living in East and West Champaran, Gopalganj, Bagaha and Saran districts have reported catching “strange-looking” large fish. Some of them said they got sick after “inadvertently” ingesting them. Some fishermen claimed to have seen decomposing dead bodies of people and animals in the floodwaters.

LIVE updates after Nepal flash floods – September 1, 2026

A comprehensive advisory has been issued against catching, eating, buying or selling unknown fish to “prevent any contamination”, said Bihar Dairy, Fisheries and Animal Resources Minister Nand Kishor Ram.

“People should not consume any unknown or unusual fish from the flood waters of Nepal. Such fish should not be bought or sold in the market… We have also received information that some people have fallen ill after consuming this fish,” the Bihar government advisory said.

“During the flash flood in Nepal, river fish may have come into contact with sewage, dead animals and other contaminants, increasing the risk of contamination with bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. Consuming such fish may be harmful to health,” the advisory added.

“If symptoms including vomiting, severe diarrhea, dizziness, vertigo, stomach pain, difficulty breathing or any other unusual reaction occur after consuming such fish, contact the nearest health center or hospital immediately and seek medical attention,” the advisory said.

“Several strange and unusual fish were seen in the strong current in the rivers of Bihar after the flash flood in Nepal. We see such fish very rarely in the normal catch. Most of them die after being caught,” said Chhatu Sahani, a fisherman at Mangalpur ghat in Gopalganj border region.

“These days we catch fish weighing 27-38 kilos, even 40-45 kilos…These are Nepalese fish like barali (wallago catfish; Barilius barila), goita (goonch catfish; Bagarius yarrelli) and roh (Labeo rohita) among others,” said Vinod Nishad.

“When unknown and unknown fish are caught or any information about them is received, the relevant district fisheries officer or local administration should be contacted immediately,” the government adviser said, adding: “No unknown or unusual fish should be consumed without identification or confirmation from the concerned authority.”

Published – 01 Sep 2026 20:26 IST