A river at the foot of Kunlun Mountain in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has become seriously polluted due to leaks from a diesel oil pipeline, which was broken by criminals who planned to steal oil, media reported Friday.

An unnamed government agency stated that broken valves on the oil pipeline in Qinghai Province, severed by prospective oil thieves, are the cause of the leaks, the Qinghai branch of China National Radio (CNR) reported on its Sina Weibo account Friday. 

A total of 6 tons of oil had leaked, and 3 tons have been cleaned up, CNR reported, adding that the broken pipeline has also been repaired.

On Thursday, Internet user "Wangmu tsu," a local resident, disclosed on Sina Weibo that the river, which is on the foot of Kunlun Mountain, was "seriously polluted, and many living things around it have been fatally poisoned."

The government of Qinghai replied on its Sina Weibo account on Friday that measures have been taken to control the pollution and locals should stop drinking from the river.

The plant of Kunlun Mountain mineral water, owned by herbal tea maker, JDB Group, said that the company "has no idea about the incident."

Kunlun Mountain mineral water is sourced from Xidatan, also on Kunlun Mountain, a staff member of their plant told the Global Times Friday.