The Geological Survey of India (GSI) will send a team of experts to Baratang Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to examine the recent eruption of India’s only active mud volcano, a senior official said on Sunday.
GSI Deputy Director General Shantanu Bhattacharjee said the volcano, which had remained dormant for more than two decades, appeared to have erupted on October 2 as a result of tectonic movement.
“A team of seven geologists from Kolkata will visit Baratang on October 7 to inspect the site. They will collect mud and gas samples for detailed analysis. We already have a testing facility at Baratang,” Bhattacharjee told.
He said the Andaman and Nicobar Islands lie within a subduction zone where frequent tectonic plate movements often cause tremors. “Even the lava eruptions at Barren Island could be linked to such tectonic activity,” he added.
Asked whether the latest mud volcano eruption was a cause for concern, Bhattacharjee said it was best to wait for the team’s official findings before drawing any conclusions.
Thousands of tourists visit the Baratang mud volcano each year. Located about 150 km from Port Blair in the North and Middle Andaman district, it is a key natural attraction in the region.
“The mud volcano is formed by gases deep within the earth, generated from decaying organic matter. These gases push mud and gas upwards, creating bubbles and craters on the surface. It’s one of the must-visit geological features in the Andamans,” Bhattacharjee explained.
Also Read : India’s only mud volcano erupts after 20 years
The October 2 eruption occurred around 1.30 pm near Jarwa Creek. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud explosion followed by a forceful discharge of mud. The eruption created an earthen mound about 3–4 metres high and spread mud across more than 1,000 square metres.
Although the activity has since subsided, authorities have temporarily suspended tourist access to the site as a safety precaution.
“Such a large eruption was last reported in 2005,” a local official said.
Meanwhile, Barren Island — India’s only active volcano located about 140 km by sea from Port Blair — witnessed two minor eruptions last month, on September 13 and 20.
Situated at the convergence of the Indian and Burmese tectonic plates, the uninhabited island has a long history of volcanic activity dating back to 1787. It has seen major eruptions in 1991, 2005, 2017, and most recently in November 2022.
The nearest inhabited locations to Barren Island are Swaraj Dweep and the Narcondam Lookout Post, both situated about 140–150 km away.
Follow us
