Toxic foam covers the surface of the Yamuna River in New Delhi on Friday (November 9).

Authorities in the Indian capital have struggled to cope with extreme pollution in recent weeks.

Writes the filmer: "The images appear to show a snow-covered river. The reality is that stretches of one of India’s most sacred rivers, the Yamuna, are covered with toxic foam caused by industrial waste.

"The situation has become so grave that not only the air [but] even the water bodies situated in Delhi such as the Yamuna River near the Kalindi Kunj area have become completely toxic.

"Recently, scores of helpless devotees on the occasion of [Hindu festival] Chhath Puja were forced to offer prayers to the sun god by immersing themselves in the toxic foam present inside the river Yamuna during the four-day long festival."

The images appear to show a snow-covered river. The reality is that stretches of one of India’s most sacred rivers, the Yamuna, are covered with toxic foam caused by industrial waste. The Yamuna, along with India’s holiest river, the Ganges, are considered among the most polluted in the world.

The situation has become so grave that not only the air, even the water bodies situated in Delhi such as the Yamuna river near Kalindi Kunj area have become completely toxic.

Recently, scores of helpless devotees on the occasion of Chhath Puja were forced to offer prayers to the sun god by immersing themselves in the toxic foam present inside the river Yamuna during the 4-day long festival.

The water of the river was very toxic and hazardous claimed a rower. Yamuna River fulfills three-quarters of the capital's water needs. Several polluting industrial units pollute the water of the river on a daily basis, regardless of the fact.

Holy rivers are meant to be purifying. Indians perform religious ceremonies, bathe and drink from the 855-mile Yamuna. The river provides three-quarters of Delhi’s water needs, posing a serious health threat to its 12 million residents and many other Indians who depend on it.