Beach-goers stunned as sea in Puducherry turns red

Puducherry beach-goers shocked to find sea turning red due to algal bloom. Coastal waters from Vaithikuppam to Gandhi statue affected. Red Tide or algal bloom likely cause; water samples collected for analysis.

Beach-goers in Puducherry were shell-shocked on Tuesday, after they witnessed the strange phenomenon of the sea turning red.

The entire stretch of coastal waters from Vaithikuppam on the northern side of the Promenade, up until Gandhi statue has become red, reportedly due to algal bloom. The reddish tinge was observed over the past one week at several patches along the coastline, local residents said.

According to Aurofilio Schiavina, a coastal management expert and member of PondyCan, a civil society organisation, “Industrial pollution or ‘Red Tide’ can be factors behind the sea turning red. This phenomenon has been observed in Vaithikuppam and a few other patches on the coastline over the past one week. Red Tide is a toxic algal bloom and is known to be harmful to marine life. The exact reason can be ascertained only after a chemical and biological analysis of the water samples is done.”

A senior official attributed the reason to be Red Tide or algal bloom. The discolouration of water is mainly due to an increase in nutrients, he said. Blue and green algal blooms have also been reported in several beaches in other States. “We are examining the algal bloom and have collected samples. The results are awaited,” he said.