Waterlogging, sanitation woes…and fish! The ’15 kg bounty’ the Yamuna left behind at Civil Lines

Amid the chaos, tilapia and catfish were spotted swimming about in living rooms, basements and the streets. Domestic workers in the area cast nets, and made a meal out of the catch.

A basketful of fish caught in the flood waters in Delhi’s Civil Lines | Photo: By special arrangement

New Delhi: Last week, the overflowing Yamuna paralysed several parts of Delhi, including the upscale Civil Lines. The flood-like situation resulted in submerged homes, waterlogged streets, sanitation woes and power outages, and for some, an unexpected bounty — a large catch of fish.

Much of Civil Lines was built during the British era. The area houses the Delhi legislative assembly, the official residence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and those of many Delhi government ministers.

According to residents, while the area sees some waterlogging every year because of its proximity to the river, last week’s flood-like situation was rare.

They watched in dismay as the water started gushing into their homes, lapping at the furniture and other items of value. Amid all the chaos, they witnessed a bizarre scene — fish swimming in their living rooms and basements, and on the streets.

As the waters started receding, domestic workers in the locality got busy, catching the fish using nets. “More than 15 kg of fish was caught by people in the area,” said Kamal Kumar, who works as a domestic help at one of the residences.

Others showed videos of the amateur fishermen at work.

A plate of marinated fish ready to be cooked | Photo: Falguni Sharma | ThePrint

ThePrint visited homes on Raj Narayan Road and Bela Road in Civil Lines, glistening pieces of fish, slathered in oil, turmeric and salt, lay stacked on plates, ready to be cooked. Most of the catch comprised tilapia and catfish, which sell for around Rs 200 per kg in the local markets, according to the proud owners of the bounty.

“Look, it has been oiled today after being cleaned all night long,” said Sourabh Rai, another domestic worker in the area, showing off the marinated fish and talking about the different recipes he and his family have been trying to prepare the catch.

While some people may worry about Yamuna’s polluted water affecting the quality of the fish, Kumar voiced no such concern.

“It’s [fish] very good for health,” he said, confidently.

(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)