Bengaluru: The Central laboratory of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has confirmed that the Shimsha river water has been poisoned and is unfit for both drinking and agricultural purposes.

According to the authorities, on November 21, various chemicals stored in an NSL sugar factory boiler, mixed with the river water following an explosion. Since then, the district administration has banned the use of water for any purposes, besides banning fishing and other activities in the river.

An estimation has shown that around 1 crore litres of chemical substances flowed to the river.

KSPCB authorities had collected water samples from the Kodihalli, Taggahalli, Maddur, Kokkarebelluru, and Iggaluru dam sites for testing. The report from these tests has revealed that the water samples collected from all the areas are contaminated with chemicals.