Villagers throng site of mystery

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug. 11: The mystery of the emission hot water from a rat hole in a paddy field at Kailashpur village in Old Malda block is attracting people from far and near in hordes. Ignoring the instructions of the administration, many onlookers have also started collecting the water for drinking purpose, hoping that it may cure acute abdominal and skin ailments. Mr Asit Sarkar, the chief of Muchia Gram Panchayat said that the onlookers have now started collecting the hot water to cure ailments, thinking it to contain curing properties of hot water springs of Rajgir and Bakreshwar. “We have already instructed people not to drink the water”, Mr Sarkar added. It may be recalled that the emission of hot water from the rat hole initiated on Tuesday and the administration is still trying to solve the mystery behind this unusual incident. Concerned authorities here have now reportedly sought help from the geological experts. Malda additional district magistrate, Mr A Khaleque, said that the administration has alerted everybody not to drink the water.” An MSc in Chmeistry, Mr Khaleque said: “I did not get any smell of Sulphur from water sample sent by the SDO yesterday”. He admitted that it was however interesting as the water was still hot even when it was brought to him after few hours of its collection from the said rat hole. The Malda ADM informed that the district magistrate has asked the geological department to look into the matter. The GSI experts will consult with engineers of the local PHE department here about the chemical composition of the water. “Police forces have been deployed there to control the hundreds of visitors to the Kailashpur village located one km from the Indo-Bangladesh border. The venue has turned into a place for funfare with locals setting up temporary food stalls there for business purpose”, panchayat officials said. Some Malda residents are upbeat about developing the region as a tourism hub on the basis of spring water source. However, no report of Sulphur content in the sample water has been reported by the PHE department here. An engineer of a government department said: “We can not ignore Sulphur content because there was a residual mountain in the Barind belt many years ago”. The block officials have urged the local people not to spread any provocative message or rumours that may cause panic among residents creating another trouble in this border area.