Scores of fish at Harangi Reservoir were found dead and stuck to the silt (circled in red) at Herur backwaters as the authorities had drained the reservoir for maintenance works.

Many fish, weighing about four to five kilograms, were found dead due to lack of water with some live fish found in small waterholes in the river bed.

Meanwhile, Harangi Reservoir Assistant Executive Engineer Dharmaraj, speaking to SOM, said that the gripping works were going on since a year and added that they have stopped releasing water to the river three days ago.

Meanwhile, stench from the dead fish was emanating from the dry river.