Watching ABC - How sad is the Ganges?

The sacred river is terribly polluted and could be dangerous.

Fecal coliform acceptable level is 500ppm for drinking water. Five metres from the shore it is over 40,000ppm.

Yuck!

Corpses are burnt on the riverbank, the ashes are thrown into the river. Pregnant women and children are considered pure and don't need purification by fire (cremation), they are thrown into the river complete.

There are people who try to clean the river, removing rubbish and corpses and dead cattle, but they are fighting a losing battle.