NAGPUR, FEBRUARY 5: "The liquid oozing out of the soil from some places in earthquake-hit Gujarat should not be confused with lava. It is mostly the underground water which comes out after some chemical reactions because of the combined effect of geo-thermal and seismic activities," said Dr U M Pitale, a geyser expert and a scientist formerly with the Geological Survey of India here. News from the Epicentre » Full coverage of the Gujarat earthquake » Donate online for relief "There should be no undue worry on this count as this is a normal phenomenon during earthquakes," Pitale said. Pitale has done his doctorate in geysers and has also undertaken a special study of geysers in New Zealand. "This phenomenon was observed even during the Latur quake," he said.Pitale explained that because of high seismic activity, water tables get either elevated or depleted. When they get elevated, there are chances that water may come out from deep fissures after mixing with various other underground chemicals, he said, adding that these are temporary occurrences. The earth's crust takes its own time to settle down after the eruption of sudden seismicity, till which period we may experience the tremors and the liquid may continue to ooze out. But once everything settles down, the water table also settles down and oozing out of the so-called strange liquid stops, Pitale further explained."Quite certainly, the liquid is not lava which could be there only when the place has known volcanic history," Pitale said.
