IIT geologists say Mahim miracle a natural phenomenon

MUMBAI: Geologists at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay on Saturday said the incident of water turning sweet at Mahim Bay was a "natural phenomenon".

The geologists of Earth Science Department of IIT-B said "a large pool of fresh water (rain) caught within the underground rock formation near the coast (on the land) is discharged into the sea due to widening of fractures in the rocks. The discharged water enters the sea as a large 'plume'.

"Due to density difference the fresh water floats on the sea water and spread along the coast. This phenomena remains as long as fresh water is discharged into the sea. In course of time the sea water mixes with this fresh water plume and becomes normal sea water."

The city has witnessed a frenzy after reports that the water at Mahim creek near here had "miraculously" become sweet since Friday night.