Jatinga River Alert: Toxic Formalin Leak Raises Concerns for Downstream Areas

Residents living along the Jatinga River in Assam’s Dima Hasao district have been advised not to use river water after a tanker carrying formalin developed a leak on National Highway 27 on Thursday afternoon, raising concerns about possible contamination of the river. As the Jatinga River eventually flows into Cachar district before joining the Barak River, the incident is also being closely watched in the Barak Valley.

According to an earlier statement issued by Debolal Gorlosa, Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council, the incident occurred at around 4 pm near Jatinga Bridge. The tanker, bearing registration number NL01AE3886, was carrying formalin when two of its chambers were damaged, allowing the chemical to leak into a nearby stream that flows into the Jatinga River.

The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Dima Hasao, later issued a detailed public advisory confirming that the tanker had broken down between Jatinga and Jatinga Lampu on NH-27, resulting in a formalin leak that is reportedly flowing into the Jatinga River.

As a precaution, the DDMA has urged residents living along the Jatinga River and downstream areas not to use river water for drinking, cooking, bathing, washing or any other domestic purpose until further notice. People have also been advised not to allow livestock or pets to drink river water and to avoid consuming fish or other aquatic organisms caught from the affected stretch of the river.

The advisory further asks the public to avoid swimming, fishing or entering the river in the affected area. Farmers have been requested not to use river water for irrigation until authorities complete their assessment.

Health officials have also warned that anyone who comes into contact with the contaminated water and experiences symptoms such as eye or skin irritation, breathing difficulty, nausea, dizziness or vomiting should seek immediate medical attention at the nearest health facility.

The DDMA has appealed to residents to remain calm, cooperate with emergency response teams and refrain from spreading rumours. People have been asked to rely only on official updates issued by the District Disaster Management Authority.

The Jatinga River originates in Dima Hasao district and flows south into Cachar district before joining the Barak River at Jatingamukh, near Barkhola village. Given the river’s downstream flow into Cachar, the situation is being closely monitored in the Barak Valley. As a precautionary measure, Borkhola Police have advised residents to avoid using water from the Jatinga River for the next few days.

Formalin is an aqueous solution of formaldehyde, a colourless but strong-smelling chemical widely used as a preservative and disinfectant. It is commonly used in medical laboratories to preserve biological specimens and is also used in industries such as textiles, paper and resin manufacturing. Exposure to formalin can irritate the eyes, skin and respiratory system, while ingestion or prolonged exposure can cause serious health problems, including nausea, vomiting and breathing difficulties. If released into rivers, formalin can be toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms, reduce water quality and disrupt aquatic ecosystems, particularly if present in high concentrations.