India, Feb. 11 -- While there has been a marked surge in devotees visiting Prayagraj for the ongoing Mahakumbh, the mega event has also led to a significant rise in garbage found floating in the Ganga and the Yamuna that mostly comprises the offerings that the faithful carry when they go for the holy dip.

It includes items like flowers, garlands, incense sticks, wrappers, plastic, coconuts, clothes besides some other items that pilgrims usually lose during bathing at the Sangam.

To ensure clean water at Sangam for the pilgrims, a trash skimmer machine is working long hours removing 10 to 15 tons of floating garbage from the rivers every day. According to officers, there has been a 20-fold increase in the collection of garbage by the mac...