Pics: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Jun 19: A team of experts from mines and geology department, senior scientists and other concerned officials visited Manchikere near Manipal on Wednesday, June 19 to examine the land which has developed cracks.

On June 18, the locals noticed a long crack on the land at Manchikere and started panicking about the unusual development. Though the cracks appeared in 2014, the gap has increased from one inch to 8 inches. Localities feared that an unknown calamity would strike during the monsoon because of the crack. The cracks are similar to those that are usually found during earthquakes. 

Mines and geology department officer Ranji Nayak after examining the crack, called the phenomenon, a common thing. 

“During monsoon this is very common. This year the ground water level has decreased and temperature was also very high. So during the monsoon, the clay material gets washed away. During this process where there is a loose formation, cracks appear. There is nothing to worry about. As per the observation, these things are very common. Nothing will happen. It is not an earthquake. In places where there is a massive geological formation, landslides and land cracks are very natural,” he said.

Stressing that locals need not worry, he said it will take time to conduct research and get the exact report.

“There is no major problem here. This has happened earlier also because the land is in a low lying area. The clay material has reacted inside the land. Because of this land sliding (crack) has appeared maybe due to the leaching process. In this circumstance surface layer will get cracks. Crack has appeared in a round shape due to presence of stones in the area. 

Dr Dinakar Shetty, senior officer, underground water authority, Dr Mahesh, senior mining officer, Dr Madeshwar, Sandhya, Gowtham Shastri, Upendra, revenue inspector and others were present.