In the coastal region of Tamil Nadu’s Puducherry, a phenomenon known as the red tide was seen earlier in October, which shocked the government authorities and marine biologists alike. The people have been witnessing red-coloured waves at the beaches. From the Puducherry Chief Secretariat’s head office to the Kurusukuppam ward, the sea appears red. It spans a length of about 2 km. Videos of this phenomenon have now gone viral. Tourists are amazed by this unnatural phenomenon in Puducherry. The government authorities have issued a ban on standing or bathing in the sea for the time being.
The police have also asked the beach caretakers to monitor the traffic of people at beaches. This incident has happened for the third time now. It was first witnessed in the early days of October. It created a stir among the fishermen’s community and the public of Puducherry. The National Centre for Coastal Research ( NCCR) has attributed this anomaly as the consequence of the harmful algal bloom and sewage disposals into the sea. Initially, it was discovered on the northern side of the Promenade Beach in Puducherry.
According to NCCR director, MV Ramana Murthy, the primary cause for the red tide of Puducherry sea is the reversal currents from the north to the south, which got mixed with the sewage from the north. “This resulted in a high concentration of nutrients in the coastal waters, which is possibly the cause behind this phenomena. There is no cause for alarm,” said the MV Ramana Murthy in an interview with a media portal.
The first sighting of the red sea in Puducherry was witnessed at the Vaithikuppam coast. This was then visible at other beaches as well. As per a report by The Hindu, the preliminary tests have already been conducted by Puducherry Pollution Control Committee ( PPCC). It has been confirmed that the red tide is the direct result of the increased nutrients in the coastal waters. The water samples have also been sent to Chennai for a biological and further chemical examination.
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