Oozing of water in parts of Andhra Pradesh, India

• Published in: Current science (Bangalore) Vol. 90; no. 11; pp. 1555 - 1560
• Main Authors: Chandra, S., Atal, S., Murthy, N. S. K., Subrahmanyam, K., Rangarajan, R., Reddy, D. V., Nagbhushanam, P., Murthy, J. V. S., Ahmed, S., Dimri, V. P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Current Science Association 10-06-2006
• Subjects: Earthquakes; Electrical resistivity; Groundwater; Groundwater level; Groundwater recharge; Imaging; RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS; Sea water; Water quality; Water tanks; ISW, India, Andhra Pradesh; ISEW, Indonesia; ISW, Indian Ocean
• ISSN: 0011-3891

Oozing of water and rise in water level were reported by villagers and media during the third week of January 2005, in parts of Rangareddy, Nalgonda and Mahboobnagar districts of Andhra Pradesh. The event also coincided with the aftermath of the 9.3 magnitude earthquake in Sumatra, Indonesia and the tsunami in the Indian Ocean. The villagers and State and Central agencies were baffled by the unusual phenomenon. After a general reconnaissance, an integrated study comprising water-level monitoring, water quality analyses, topography survey, isotopic analyses, mise-à-la-masse survey and electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) was carried out at two sites near Mukindapur and Devanur of Yalal mandal in Ranga Reddy district, where the phenomenon of water-oozing was observed. The integrated study revealed that the oozing of water at the studied location is purely hydrological/hydrogeological and a shallow phenomenon. Scientific data could not attribute any strong connection to the deeper tectonics nor to the impact of the Sumatra earthquake and aftershocks. However, investigations form a prelude to any such geogenic activity in the region, suggesting monitoring of water level and further studies during the current hydrological year for any definite conclusion.