While excavating the tubewell in the Mohangarh Canal area of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan in India, workers breached a clay layer at a depth of approximately 850 feet, resulting in a continuous water flow for about 50 hours, as reported by DW. The ground sank, causing a truck weighing about 22 tons and the digging machinery to sink into an 850-foot deep pit, with only part of the truck visible, noted OneIndia Hindi.
After approximately 50 hours, the flow of water emerging from the ground in Jaisalmer's Mohangarh area ceased on its own.
The incident unfolded on Saturday near Chak 27 BD in Mohangarh, reported ETV Bharat.
Villagers fled the site as the water flow did not recede, raising concerns about potential damage. "The water pressure is like that of sea waves, causing waterlogging," explained groundwater scientist Dr. Narayan Das Inkhia, who arrived at the site, according to Amar Ujala.
Following the incident, the administration evacuated a 500-meter area for safety reasons, prohibiting public movement. A temporary police post was established at the site, and the district collector stated that expert teams would visit, reported Amar Ujala.
Teams from the central and state government's groundwater department arrived to investigate the cause of the high-pressure water eruption, as reported by Navbharat Times. Officials from the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) inspected the site. "ONGC officials determined that the gas was neither poisonous nor flammable, easing immediate concerns," reported Zee News.
#WATCH | Jaisalmer, Rajasthan | Senior Ground Water Scientist and Incharge, Rajasthan Ground Water Board Department, Dr Narayan Inkhiya says, "...During the tubewell drilling in Mohangarh, spontaneous flow of groundwater had started. Groundwater was flowing in a large amount...In… pic.twitter.com/md7GJg6L1c
— ANI (@ANI) December 30, 2024
Despite discussions among locals about the possibility of the Saraswati River being the source of the water, experts cautioned against hasty conclusions. "Connecting this water flow to the Saraswati River would be premature," said Dr. Inkhia. "This is a subject of investigation, on which further information will be provided," according to Navbharat Times.
Environmental and groundwater expert Himanshu Thakkar commented that this could be due to the presence of artesian wells in the area. "Where artesian wells are present, there is water under a lot of pressure. If a hole is made there, the water comes out with very high pressure. As long as the pressure remains, the water keeps flowing, and as soon as the pressure decreases, the water stops," he said in an interview with DW. "Today there may be sand here, but finding water sources is not impossible because the area has not always been a desert," he added.
Villagers stated that similar incidents have happened before in Jaisalmer.
Geologists believe that the rocks and water may have come from the sea during the time when the area changed from being underwater to a desert due to geological changes, according to DW.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq