October 5, 2025

Get ready for some volcanic action from deep underground! India's only active mud volcano, resting quietly for over 20 years on Baratang Island in the Andaman Islands, suddenly erupted on October 2 with a loud boom and a splash of mud. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) is now jumping into action. Shantanu Bhattacharjee, GSI's Deputy Director General, told PTI that a team of seven expert geologists from Kolkata is heading to Baratang on October 7 to explore this thrilling event. Why did this eruption happen? Bhattacharjee explains, "The volcano was dormant for more than two decades, and the October 2 eruption seemed to have happened due to tectonic movement." The Andaman and Nicobar Islands lie in a highly active subduction zone where tectonic plates regularly shift, causing earthquakes and sometimes volcanic outbursts like the ones seen at Baratang and even nearby Barren Island’s lava eruptions. What’s going on with the mud volcano? This fascinating natural wonder blows out mud and gas from deep inside the Earth. The mud rises because of gases released by rotting organic matter underground. These gases push the mud up, creating giant bubbles and craters that are a must-see for thousands of tourists visiting Baratang every year. The eruption on October 2 happened around 1:30 pm at Jarwa Creek. Witnesses said they heard a sudden loud explosion followed by a violent mud eruption. The eruption built up a massive mound about 3 to 4 meters high and spread mud over an area bigger than 1000 square meters! Though the mud show has stopped, as a safety move, tourist visits have been paused. This was no small event. A local official shared, "Such a big eruption was last reported in 2005." Just last month, Barren Island, another volcanic spot about 140 km away from Port Blair, had two minor eruptions. This island sits where the Indian and Burmese tectonic plates meet, making it a hot spot for volcanic activity since 1787. Nearby islands like Swaraj Dweep and Narcondam are far enough to be safe but keep a watchful eye. The GSI team's arrival and their collection of mud and gas samples will help solve this geological mystery. For nature lovers, the mud volcano at Baratang remains a thrilling science wonder — a bubbling reminder of the restless Earth beneath our feet!

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Tags: Mud volcano, Baratang island, Geological survey of india, Andaman, Tectonic plates, Volcanic eruption,