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Believers say the God's Own Country is experiencing nature's wrath. But scientists and geologists are perplexed over the bizarre phenomena of multi-coloured rains, collapsing wells and sinking earth that are occurring in parts of Kerala these days.
The Trivandrum-based Centre for Earth Sciences Studies has launched extensive studies on rainwater after people collected showers in three colours --red, yellow and green -- in the districts of Ernakulam, Kottayam, Palakkad and Pathanamthitta.
"We have no ready answers. But we are examining whether the unusual rains are linked to other occurrences of sinking earth and collapsing wells that are taking place across Kerala," CESS director Dr M Baba told rediff.com
He said the CESS has collected reports on nearly 140 wells that have collapsed in different parts of the state.
Some frightened residents have given religious overtones to the coloured rainwater and the collapsing of wells
George Isaac, a farmer in Pala, has pledged to dedicate seven holy masses to save the people of the area from the wrath of god.
"There may be some geological reasons behind the collapsing of the wells. But it does not bode well. It gives me a terrible feeling when I look at our well, which gave us drinking water all these years. We are afraid," Isaac told rediff.com
Last week, a dozen residents in Pathanamthitta district collected red rainwater. After local newspapers published photographs of the blood-coloured water prominently on the front pages, CESS scientists came down and collected samples.
Scientists say they are conducting a chemical analysis on the water. "We are examining the reddish tinge," said a senior scientist.
As to the collapsing wells and sinking earth, scientists at CESS put forward various geological reasons. A section of the geologists say that a tectonic pressure is building up at deeper levels under the earth due to the alteration of the ground water regime.
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