This lake in India is straight out of a horror movie

AT FIRST glance this photo may appear to simply show snow covering a mountain. But the reality of what’s going on here is shocking.

A canal which once carried water from Bellandur Lake to Varthur Lake is filled with froth emanating from sewage in east Bangalore on May 1, 2015. The innocuous-looking foam, which from a distance, looks like snow is nothing but toxic effluent caused by the polluted sewage water overflowing from nearby Bellandur Lake. The foam is a result of the water in the lake having high content of ammonia and phosphate and very low dissolved oxygen. Sewage from many parts of the Bangalore is released into lakes, leaving it extremely polluted. The foam during heavy rains spill onto the road, causing a traffic pile besides spreading unbearable stench in the air in the neighbourhood. AFP PHOTO/Manjunath KIRAN

AT FIRST glance this photo may appear to show snow covering a mountain. But the reality of what’s going on here is horrifying.

This is actually an incredibly rare and very unnatural phenomenon. It’s a lake in India that’s so toxic that it froths over and even bursts into flames. It’s a scene straight out of a horror movie.

Located in the bustling hi-tech hub of Bangalore, the 36 kilometre Bellandur Lake is the largest — and most polluted — one in the city.

The foam is a result of the toxic water which contains a high content of ammonia and phosphate and very low dissolved oxygen. This has been put down to decades worth of untreated chemical waste being pumped into it.

If that wasn’t bad enough, sewage from many parts of the city is also released into the lake, leaving it extremely polluted.

During heavy rain, the foam spills onto the road, causing a traffic pile and spreading an unbearable stench in the air in the neighbourhood.

And at times, due to the grease, oil and detergents that can be found in the froth, it catches on fire.

Look out! Picture: A TripAdvisor traveller

The lake catches fire when the toxic water mixes with grease and oil.

“Every time it rains and the water flows, the froth raises and navigating this stretch becomes risky,” Vishruth, a resident who lives about 30 metres away from the lake, told the NewIndianExpress.

“Due to the froth, visibility is reduced and the area also smells bad.”

Just a week ago, he said the froth had risen to more than a metre high.

“Cars and bikes that pass this area get covered with froth,” he said.

Earlier this year, Indian Institute of Sciences Bio-engineering expert Durga Madhab Mahapatra told NewsMinute that contaminated air particles from the river were causing a burning feeling in people’s eyes.

The lake is often hazy, even when it’s not on fire. Picture: Anoop Kumar

Locals are so desperate to save the lake, they set up a Facebook page to bring attention to the problem

Software executive and environmental activist Nagesh Aras told the LATimes that disaster is looming if urgent action isn’t taken.

“We need to change course, but it’s like trying to turn the Titanic around,” Mr Aras said. “There’s an iceberg ahead, but the captain hasn’t even seen it. And that’s the tragedy with the fires. We’re trying to explain that they’re just the tip of the iceberg.”

The lake is in Bangalore, which is India’s technology hub, home to 8.5 million people. Picture: Anoop Kumar