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Experts caution as wells cave in

60 wells disappear across state in one month

KOCHI: With the monsoon in progress, central and northern Kerala districts are witnessing increasing incidents of wells caving in which has come along with the phenomenon of heat wave in the coastal region.

“Reports from Kozhikode, Kannur, Palakkad, Ernakulam and Alappuzha indicate that almost 60 wells have caved in during the past one month and the most number of cases were reported from Kozhikode. Some weird phenomenon like caving in, in between house and wells and near wells were reported from Thrissur but luckily those involved escaped miraculously,” said Sreemurugan Anthikkad, geo enthusiast and ham radio expert who is keenly watching the phenomenon.

The phenomenon started reporting from Kerala ever since the earthquake in Gujarat in 2001. Last year the phenomenon subsided while in 2013 more than 450 wells caved in.

“This year it has gone up and it is related to the seismic activity after the Nepal earthquake in the region,” Sreemurugan averred.

Eminent scientist with National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS) Thiruvananthapuram Dr John Mathai said that it would be prudent on the part of people to keep a watchful eye on wells and not to crowd around them to chat.

“After every earthquake, pressure is released from within the earth. There is possibility of water rushing through earth and also going down through openings like wells, especially during rainy season. In the light of Nepal earthquake there are chances for this here now,” he said.

“The Indian plate is experiencing pressure from the mid-ocean ridge in the Indian Ocean and there is an uplift in the Indian coast. This is pushing the Eurasian plate as well. Because of this pressure, there is activity within the region because of which some splits may be created on the surface of earth while some existing splits get filled”.

( Source : deccan chronicle )
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