Bihar’s Fisheries and Animal Resources Ministry has issued an advisory urging people not to eat or handle unfamiliar or unusual fish found in floodwaters flowing into the state’s rivers from Nepal. The warning follows reports that several residents in Champaran, Gopalganj and nearby areas fell ill after catching, cooking and eating large, unidentified fish in recent days.

The ministry said people should avoid catching, consuming, buying or selling such fish to prevent possible contamination or poisoning. Bihar Dairy, Fisheries and Animal Resources Minister Nandkishore Ram said the alert was issued over concerns about any form of pollution or toxic exposure linked to the unfamiliar fish.

The state government’s directive specifically says unidentified or abnormal fish arriving with Nepal’s floodwaters should not be eaten and should not be traded in markets. Authorities said they had received information that some people became ill after consuming these fish, prompting the public warning.