Story originally published by:
The Times of India | P K Surendran- Aug 7 2001
Strange Phenomena Continues In Kerala, India
[Original headline:
Mystery of the scarlet rains and other tales]
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Even as scientists are yet to reach any definite
conclusion about the cause of the 'red rain' and caving in of wells
in Kerala, stranger phenomena like sudden formation of wells and
unusual falling of leaves of plants and trees have been reported
from the state.
In the last couple of months about 175 cases of "well
collapse" have
been recorded from across the state, baffling the people and experts
alike.
In what could be the exact opposite, two cases of natural
well-formation have been reported from Kasargode and Thrissur
districts, creating panic among the people.
Villagers of Vellimon in Kollam were witness to a strange spectacle
when leaves of plants and trees in half-a-hectare stretch suddenly
started falling in strong wind and drizzle in the morning.
The mystery over
'scarlet rain', experienced in parts of central Kerala recently, deepened further as experts from the Centre for
Earth Science Studies (CESS), distanced themselves from their
earlier hypothesis that the phenomenon could have been caused by
dust thrown off by a meteor burst.
They claimed on Saturday that the sample analysis of coloured rain
showed the presence of fungal spores.
By its own admission, the "tentative conclusions" leave unanswered
questions like what could have produced the huge quantity of spores
and how they got injected into the clouds.
The chemical analyses of the samples showed the presence of carbon,
silicon, calcium, magnesium, aluminum, iron, sodium and potassium
besides significant trace quantities (in parts per million) of
phosphorus, titanium, chromium, manganese, copper and nickel.
The CESS has discounted the possibility of the well-collapse having
any link with seismic activity as feared by the people.
"Bad construction of wells coupled with hydrographic pressures
caused by above-normal rains" were cited as main reasons for the
well-collapse.
Taking the general apprehension into account, the state government
had, however, sought central help for an in-depth examination of the
phenomenon.
The people of Arimbur village were taken by surprise when land
slipped and a well emerged at the courtyard of one Thanikkal Jose on
Saturday. The well is 22 ft deep with muddy water at the bottom.
A similar case has been reported from the homestead of one Sivadas
of Kumbala in Kasargode district.
What apparently makes people apprehensive is that many parts of the
state experienced mild tremors last year. Before and after the
tremors, unusual waves were found in wells in some places, which
experts termed as a phenomenon called 'seismic seiches' which has
nothing to do with an impending earthquake.
Story originally published by:
The Times of India - Aug 6 2001
Copyright Times Internet Limited 2002
Red rain was fungus, not meteorâ
(appeared in
Indian Express August 6, 2001)
KAMAL GOPINATH NAIR
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUGUST 5:
The red rain that lashed parts of Kerala last month is eluding explanations as the days go by.
The Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS) here on Saturday
retracted its hypothesis that a streaking meteor triggered the rain.
Everybody had taken that explanation with a pinch of salt because
other researchers had spoken of biological contents in the water
samples. Yet, the retraction has raised eyebrows about a premier
research body as prudence in making a hurried announcement.
CESS has not only retracted, but tagged a confession:
"This leaves
several questions unanswered."
The CESS press release was triggered
by the chemical analysis of the water samples that showed these were
largely biological. Biological studies have identified organic
material such as fungal spores in them.
CESS director M. Baba said:
"The exact species is yet to be
identified. But how such a large quantity of spores could appear
over a small region is as yet unknown."
On July 25, Changanacherry town had received the coloured showers
overnight that continued into the morning and on till sunset. Some
residents collected samples of the rain. They said the shower was
accompanied by thunder and lightning.
CESS then collected the samples and tested them. The water was found
to be neutral and contained some amount of dissolved salts.
The filtered precipitate was fine and powdery, and this, said Baba,
was chemically and biologically analyzed.
The chemical analysis showed various elements
- including carbon,
silicon, calcium, magnesium, aluminum, iron, sodium and potassium.
It contained significant traces (in parts per million) of
phosphorus, titanium, chromium, manganese, copper and nickel.
The biological study - partly conducted at CESS and at the
Tropical
Botanic Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI), Pacha Palode -
revealed a red coloured cell structure.
This has been tentatively identified as spores of some fungus
species and are now being cultured by the TBGRI.
"The red colour of
the rain appears to be mainly because of the spores," Baba said.
These findings, say CESS, raise doubts on whether the explosive
sound reported by residents and the red rain were independent
events. There are other posers too which remain unanswered:
-
What produced the huge quantity of spores ?
-
Is the source local or
distant?
-
How were the spores injected into the clouds?
If the source is not local, how was the mass transported without
getting distributed over a large area?
By way of an answer, CESS has only this to say :
"While the cause
of the colour in the rainfall has been identified, finding the
answers to these questions is a challenge."
