'Shaking' well in Gujarat's Morbi sparks curiousity among villagers

A farm well in Morbi has shown continuous waves and overflow for five days. Officials suspect groundwater recharge and trapped air, not seismic activity, behind the disturbance.'Shaking' well in Gujarat's Morbi leaves villagers baffled, probe orderedAn 18-foot-deep well in Gujarat's Morbi district has become the centre of curiousity after its water began showing continuous waves and ripples for the past five days, attracting hundreds of villagers and passersby eager to witness the unusual phenomenon.The well, located on the farm of Pranjivan Sadariya in Virparda village of Morbi taluka, has sparked widespread speculation, with many initially fearing the movement could be linked to seismic activity.However, district officials have ruled out any connection with earthquakes, saying preliminary findings point to a natural geological process.WATER HAS BEEN SHAKING FOR FIVE DAYSAccording to the well's owner, Pranjivan Sadariya, he first noticed the unusual activity on August 2. "When I arrived at my farm on Sunday, water from the well was spilling over the edge, and the same thing has continued ever since," he said.Sadariya said the well was constructed around three months ago. Local residents said the water was first seen shaking on Sunday and Monday. The movement briefly stopped on Tuesday before resuming on Wednesday and Thursday, fuelling further curiosity.As news of the mysterious well spread, people from Virparda and neighbouring villages began gathering at the site. Travellers passing along the nearby highway have also been stopping to watch the continuously rippling water.The unusual sight has become a major talking point across the region, with many waiting for experts to determine the exact cause.EXPERTS RULE OUT EARTHQUAKEDistrict Geologist J S Vadher said there was no evidence of seismic activity behind the phenomenon."This is not seismic activity. Prima facie, it appears that following heavy upstream rainfall, groundwater is recharging and air trapped in the pore spaces of rocks is being released, causing the disturbance in the well," Vadher said.Officials also consulted the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) in Gandhinagar, which reportedly confirmed that there is no active fault line in the area.Morbi District Collector Swapnil Khare said the state government had been informed and a team from Gandhinagar would visit the site for a detailed scientific investigation. "We have informed the Gujarat government about it, and a team from Gandhinagar will visit the site for further investigation," Khare said.GROUNDWATER RECHARGE SEEN AS LIKELY CAUSEAccording to the preliminary assessment by the district administration, the well's behaviour is most likely linked to recent heavy rainfall.Officials believe the rains have rapidly recharged underground aquifers, forcing trapped air through pores and fractures in the rocks beneath the well. The escaping air is believed to be creating continuous turbulence, resulting in the persistent ripples seen on the water's surface.While the initial findings point to a natural hydrogeological process, officials said the exact cause would be confirmed only after the expert team from Gandhinagar completes its investigation.- Ends(with inputs from Rajesh Ambaliya)Published By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 7, 2026 00:00 IST