India, Feb. 13 -- Huge sludge along with silt and leftover puja material have deposited in Hindon River near the GT Road stretch in Ghaziabad, bringing in large-scale contamination to the already polluted river.

Officials said that the deposits have come in from the upstream areas, and were also aided by nine untreated drains in Ghaziabad.

During a visit, an HT team found highly contaminated and stinking silt, emanating a foul smell, along with huge deposits of garbage and puja leftovers, deposited on the river banks along the Chhath Ghats on the river banks below the GT Road overbridge towards the Hindon barrage near Vasundhara.

Officials of the UP irrigation department said the river water and its quality are not maintained by them, ...