Mystery Well in Gujarat's Morbi Draws Crowds as Water Ripples for Days; Officials Rule Out Seismic Activity

Morbi: An 18-foot-deep agricultural well in Gujarat's Morbi district has become the centre of widespread curiosity after its water continued to ripple and overflow for nearly five days, prompting authorities to launch a scientific investigation while ruling out any link to seismic activity.

The well, located on the farm of Pranjivan Sadariya in Virparda village of Morbi taluka, first showed unusual movement on August 2. According to the well owner, he noticed water spilling over the edge when he reached his farm, and the phenomenon has continued intermittently since then.

Videos of the continuously moving water have gone viral on social media, drawing hundreds of villagers and travellers to the site. Many initially speculated that the unusual activity could be linked to an impending earthquake or other geological event.

However, district officials have dismissed those fears. Morbi District Geologist J.S. Vadher said preliminary findings indicate the phenomenon is not caused by seismic activity.

He said recent heavy rainfall likely led to rapid groundwater recharge, forcing trapped air through pores and fractures in underground rock formations, creating continuous turbulence and ripples on the water's surface.

Officials also consulted the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) in Gandhinagar, which confirmed that there is no active fault line in the area that could explain the movement.

Morbi District Collector Swapnil Khare said the Gujarat government has been informed, and a team of experts from Gandhinagar will visit the site to conduct a detailed scientific assessment and determine the exact cause of the phenomenon.

While experts believe the unusual water movement is likely a natural hydrogeological process triggered by monsoon-induced groundwater recharge, officials said a definitive conclusion will be reached only after the expert team's investigation is completed.

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