In a shocking and unanticipated turn of events, the tides at the famous Promenade Beach in Puducherry took on a reddish-orange hue. It certainly seemed almost biblical that the water seemingly changed colour. The beachgoers were certainly taken aback by this sudden change in the colour of water and it certainly raised alarms. Here is all you need to know about this particular incident that left people scratching their heads.
Tides At Puducherry’s Promenade Beach Turn Red
Can you guess whats this “green” coloured thing thing that was observed in the beach of #Pondicherry yesterday? Read on… pic.twitter.com/AHf1FiY6QV
— Chandra (tckb) (@this_is_tckb) October 18, 2023
On October 17, Tuesday, regular beachgoers at the famous Promenade Beach in Puducherry were taken aback by a perplexing and mysterious phenomenon. The tides on the beach, which were previously an azure blue, had now turned crimson red! This raised alarms with the locals and experts alike and right away, an investigation was launched by experts.
This is this so-called “Algae bloom” observed in yesterday as seen in the false coloured image above. This is harmful for marine animals and it depletes levels of oxygen in the water, which can kill fish and other living creatures. pic.twitter.com/9ybzWx8lVX
— Chandra (tckb) (@this_is_tckb) October 18, 2023
The National Centre for Coastal Research or NCCR proceeded to assemble a team of environmentalists as well as scientists in order to investigate the matter. Their investigations revealed that the reason that the water turned red was because of algae growth. According to an article recently published by The Weather Channel, various factors have spurred the growth of red algae to a harmful level.
According to the director of NCCR, M V Ramana Murthy, as cited by the article, there has been a reversal of currents from the north to the south. This reversal of current has mixed with the sewage of the north. Hence, the nutrients in the coastal water increased significantly which acted as a catalyst for the growth of the red algae.
No Cause For Extreme Alarm, Say All Experts
The sea near #Pondicherry (north side of rock beach) turned into orange colour because of algae. The bloom seems originate like a plume from the mouths of karuvadikuppam canal which is nutrient rich because the high amount of sewage flow in it.#Puducherry pic.twitter.com/UYAutxkvwm
— Raj Bhagat P #Mapper4Life (@rajbhagatt) October 18, 2023
The water samples taken from the beach are now being subjected to thorough chemical and biological testing in order to determine everything that needs to be determined. According to all the tests so far, experts say that there is no cause for alarm if people keep away from the waters for a little while. Red Algae and its growth is known to have a range of consequences.
Red algae is known to cause harm to marine life and even humans owing to its toxins. Hence, it is best to proceed with caution until further information is revealed. What is more, the authorities are diligently monitoring the situation in order to curb and mitigate any harm that might occur.
Fascinating as the sight of red water lapping on the beach might be, locals are urged to maintain a safe distance from the water. They are also encouraged to stay updated on the situation so that no unavoidable harm befalls them.
Also Read: President Droupadi Murmu Visits Puducherry For Two Days, Calls The UT Perfect For Spiritual Tourism
Have you ever witnessed such an incident before? What would you do? Let us know in the comments below!
Cover Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons (For Representational Purposes Only)
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