The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Sudden appearance of water rattles villagers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 25, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Sudden appearance of water rattles villagers

By Our Staff Reporter

MEDAK, JAN. 24. A few kilometres from Medak town the dusty main street of Venkatapur village leads to a barren three-acre plot, in the middle of which a curious crowd has gathered. Three days ago when someone dug for soil, moisture was found. Within an hour the spot enlarged into a three feet by three feet puddle.

They left the spot in a hurry afraid of some supernatural phenomenon, as they were taking the soil without the permission of its owner -- Nelli Yenkamma, a 50-year-old widow.

The moist spot is just three feet from the road; there are no ponds or water bodies nearby. Kulcharam mandal itself is barren and full of boulders.

Kanuvyna Segulu, a villager said, "We have never stuck water at three feet; there are farmers who got drilling machines and went up to 180 feet but never found water."

Tsunami effect

The news has spread like wildfire and hundreds of schoolchildren along with their teachers have descended, discussing about the recent tsunami and how water had sprung up in the borders of Zaheerabad.

But there is also a large contingent of old folk who attribute this to a curse and are cautioning the children not to venture to the spot. In the absence of scientific advice from geologists or Government officials villagers stick to the tsunami effect theory.

The owner of the land does not know what to do with the water, as she doesn't have enough money to drill further.

"The water is not sufficient to irrigate my land.

I don't have young sons to dig it. I will leave it that way," Yenkamma said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh