Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jul 2: The surface of earth in front of Naga Brahmasthana on second cross road in Manchikere Colony on Manipal-Alevoor was seen to have developed a fissure all of a sudden on Tuesday July 1 evening. Curious people made a beeline to the spot after learning about this nature's wonder.

From above, the crack appears to have a depth of over ten feet. Rush of people from various parts of the district was seen at this area till late night on Tuesday. Although various theories are making rounds about this phenomenon, no one has come up with a convincing answer. The people of the area have turned fearful about of the likelihood of the crack getting extended into new territories in its vicinity.

However, the fears of locals were put to rest by senior geologist Niranjan who visited the spot on Tuesday July 2. He said that such chasms were a common phenomenon in the coastal region during the rainy season, and that it was just a seismic activitiy and there was no cause for panic.

He said the estimated length of the fissure is about 50 to 60 metres, and it is in a curved line. "The exact depth of the fissure cannot be calculated right now," he added.

"We need a geological centre for the coastal region to study such seismic activity. We have one in Gowribidanur in Kolar, but the need of the hour is to have a centre in coastal region," he said.

Clarifying the position to journalists when contacted, geology professor in Manipal Institute of Technology, Dr H N Udayashankar, guessed that this has something to do with an earlier incident in which water had suddenly started gushing out from wells and other water bodies at Kelaparkala during peak summer months and had enriched these water sources.