Water in the Ganges has been correlated to contracting dysentery, cholera, hepatitis, as well as severe diarrhoea which continues to be one of the leading causes of death of children in India. The Ganges river dolphin is one of few species of freshwater dolphins in the world. Listed as an endangered species, their population is believed to be less than 2000.
In the early 20th century the Yamuna waters were described as clear blue. However, due to high-density of population and rapid industrialization today the Yamuna is one of the most polluted rivers in the world, especially around New Delhi, the capital of India.
The Mithi river that runs 18km through Mumbai's length was Maharashtra's most polluted river in 2018, containing human and animal excreta almost 15 times the safe limit. This trend of dumping wastes into the water continues into the Mithi river as it flows down to the Arabian sea.
The river is narrow, placid, slow and meandering. The river is primarily fed by discharge from tank and water bodies and has seen a steady drop in freshwater over the years, a primary reason for its present-day condition.The river mouth near the Napier Bridge gets blocked for most of the time, preventing the river water from draining into the sea.