Astonishingly, it was only on Tuesday that the Vadodara Municipal Corporation woke up to the catastrophe. In the meantime, the residents have tried to take their own remedial measures: a huge pile of dead fish has been partially burnt on the banks of the pond. Guesstimates put the quantity of dead fish at 10 to 12 tonnes.

The sight, which mocks every principle of the current Swachha Gujarat, Swastha Gujarat campaign, evokes only lukewarm response in the VMC. While civic chief G R Aloria is out of town, Mayor Bharati Vyas says, ``It is the administration's job, but I'll look into it.'' Zonal Commissioner B S Trapasia maintains he was informed of the incident today, while Deputy Municipal Commissioner I B Peerzada confesses, ``I don't know why the VMC has woken up late.''

In-charge civic Health Officer Dr Dhurandhar Pathak is as laconic. ``The problem isn't as serious as it could have been if a bigger pond had been involved'', he says.

But that is neither here nor there. What about the very real dangers of an epidemic, considering some residents had confessed to eating the fish? ``Medical teams have been sent to the area'', Pathak tries to assure this reporter. ``Besides, the people ate live fish, not the dead ones.''

Nevertheless, says Iqbal Jinna, a Hathikhana resident, more than 30 people have fallen ill because of the noxious fumes and were being treated at private clinics. Mohammad Mansuri and Sattar Vohra, for instance, have been throwing up repeatedly over the last couple of days.

``An epidemic is a very real possibility, since the VMC steps are grossly inadequate'', says Yusuf Ganchi of the City Youth Congress Committee. ``More staff needs to be deployed on the job''.

But that may just be asking for too much since, till Tuesday, only one councillor had visited the place. ``I went to Hathikhana on Sunday and informed the VMC two days ago. I'll meet the commissioner on Wednesday'', says Shakuntala Heliya.

What caused the fish to die? Pathak says a season-related reduction in oxygen levels or a sewage problem could have been responsible for the death of fish.

Zonal executive engineer V N Tailor elaborates, ``Sewage connections have to be examined to find out if they're unauthorised. But this'll require great effort, and affect campaigns like the Swachha Gujarat... and pre-monsoon work''. He appears completely unaware of the irony of his statement.

According to residents of Roshannagar, Mansuri Kabrastan and Tulsiwadi, this is an annual phenomenon. While those like Abeda Meman hold the contractors responsible for not clearing the dead fish, Fakira Kahar, a contractor, accuses the residents of releasing chemicals into the water. ``They also don't allow us to clean up the banks of the pond'', he alleges.

According to Pathak, the VMC could think of a long-term solution only after tests on the water revealed the root cause for the fishes' death. Till then, locals can only hope the civic body will clear up the area. And fast.