* * * THREE REPORTS * * *

Comment: This has quickly evolved into a classic Fortean event. There are many historical accounts of apparent sky falls [in this case an alleged meteor] being accompanied by bizarre phenomena such as colored rain and even insects. Perhaps the collapsing wells are responsible for dislodging these creatures from their natural underground habitat ... and perhaps not. G-fs

Black Insect Swarm Accompanies Bizarre Events In India

[Original headline: Red rain, black insects, caving wells in South Indian State]

New Delhi, IRNA -- After wells which kept collapsing for last many days the people in the Southern Indian State of Kerala are now baffled with red rain and black insects.

According to the Indian Express, an English daily published from New Delhi, Central for Earth Science Studies (CESS) said in a media release on Tuesday that a meteor have exploded in Changanacherry in the Kerala last week and the burning meteor might have thrown fine dust into the atmosphere, which came down as red rain.

Scientists of CESS in Tiruvananthapuram Capital City of Kerala have also said that the total dust thrown out of meteor is estimated to weight around 1,100 kg.

The chemical analysis which is in the progress would throw more light, of Red-colored water lashed districts of Pathanamthitta, Kottyam, Kollam among other districts in Kerala.

However, there are other hypotheses, including dust being spewed up from earth owing to tectonics activity-though no such incident has been.

There has also been an instance of tiny black insect raining from the sky on Monday according to another report from Peroor, near Ettumanoor in Kerala.

One person from Peroor who first reported the "phenomenon," said the presence of tiny insects in plenty in stagnant rain water. Later, it was seen in the well also. The Black insect rain still remains a mystery.

But the possibility theories are nothing compared to the stories surrounding the mystery of the collapsing wells. Around 150 have crumpled down in various fashions across the state since the second week of June this year, 67 of them during June alone.

The experts put various reasons for well collapsing phenomenon like sudden build up of differential water pressure, type of well lining, lithological conditions, rainfall intensity and recharge and it is also attributed that the collapsing wells are part of the ectonics activity occurring in the part of Western part if the Indian plate (South), spread from Gujarat onwards.

• Story published by •
IRNA - Aug 2 2001

Meteor May Have
Caused Red Rain In India

[Original headline: 'Red rain' due to meteorite burst]

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Scientists have found that the "coloured rain" (red rain), reported in some parts of the Kerala recently, causing panic among people, was due to the "burst of a meteor."

Centre for Earth Science Studies Director, Dr M Baba said in a statement here on Monday that based on the physical analysis of the samples of sediments obtained from Changancherry, where the "red rain" occurred on july 25, and the information gathered from the residents, a preliminary hypothesis as to the cause of the colour has been derived.

"A meteor travelled from the west to the east and exploded towards the east of Madhumula junction in Changanacherry at around 0530 hours. The burning meteor threw fine dust into the atmosphere which came down as red rain," Baba said.

The total dust thrown out was estimated to weigh around 1,000 kg. The chemical analysis in progress would throw more light, he added. CESS scientists, Dr Sampathkumar and Dr V Sashikumar, who visited Changanacherry, were told by people that they heard a sound like thunder. However, thunder storms are not a usual occurrence this time of the year.

• Story published by •
South Nexus, Manipal / India - July 31 2001

Rare Phenomena Of Colored Rains,
Vanishing Wells Strikes Kerala, India

[Original headline: Red rains, vanishing wells plague Kerala]

HIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The world over, Kerala is reputed as a "green land" dominated by "red politics."

Now red rains and vanishing wells are sending shock waves across "god's own country" as scientists are yet to reach definite conclusions regarding these rare phenomena.

While caving-in of large number of wells had been reported across the state during the last two months, several places in central Kerala have received red-coloured rains since last week. In some places, people even reported having received yellow, green and black rain.

The experts of the Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS) here have carried out preliminary tests of the coloured rain waters collected by people in vessels, but say that a convincing explanation could be possible only after a detailed analysis.

In the case of caving-in of wells, the state government has sought the help of experts from central institutions for a detailed study of the phenomenon since Kerala lacked the wherewithal to take up an in-depth analysis.

In the last couple of months, 175 wells in homesteads across the state were found filled up with mud and rubbles overnight.

The fact that some of the areas where well-collpase reported had experienced recurrence of mild tremors since last year had heightened the commonman's fear.

However, a preliminary study by CESS experts found no evidence to link the well-collpases with seismic activity.

"The main reasons for well-collapse are bad construction of wells coupled with hydrogrpahic pressure casued by abnormal rains this year," Dr M Baba, director of CESS, said.

Kerala had received good summer showers this year followed by early monsoon rains which so far had showed 11 per cent increase than the normal rainfall, Baba pointed out. The study held "bad construction" of wells as one of the important causes for caving-in of wells.

"Wells are not dug where they should be dug. In most cases, fragile rings are used. They get collapsed when the water pressure increases," Baba said.

The "red rain" was first reported from Changanassery in Kottayam district. At first, it was dismissed as an "isolated" case. But in the next days, coloured rains were reported from Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta and Palakkad districts.

The panic-striken people collected samples of the coloured water in kitchen vessels. This greatly helped the experts to get access to samples conduct their studies.

According to Baba, the coloured rain waters is being subjected to detailed tests by scientists to identify its source before which it would be difficult to jump to any conclusion.

"On the face of it, one could safely say that well-collpases and red rain are not related phenomena, as feared by some people," he added.

• Story published by •
The Times of India - July 30 2001