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Volcanic(?) Eruption at Arunachal-An Update

By AG | Published: September 15, 2007

Substantiating our doubts on the explanation given by experts from WIHG and GSI on the unusual geological activity that occurred on the night of August 21st at a place some 7 km from Kimin towards Ziro, the ZPM, ASM Chairperson of Kimin and PRO Eruption Site Committee has communicated to the Deputy Commissioner that the crater is still emitting smoke and heat and that the people around the eruption site are living in a virtual fear psychosis that eruption may recur and may kill them. Below is the letter:

“Sir,

After the unusual geological happening resembling a volcanic eruption occurred on 21 August at 7 km off Kimin, a team of geologist from Geological Survey of India (GSI), Itanagar first described it to be a volcanic eruption/fisture. But later they reportedly ruled out the possibility of a volcano in their official report.

But the holes from which lava-like materials oozed out are still emitting smoke and heat, indicating some internal activity inside the craters.

Ever since the occurrence of the volcano-like phenomenon, the people here are living in a fear psychosis, fearing that it might be a volcano and that it might recur-and that the GSI report may also be wrong. They are spending sleepless nights, knowing in their hearts that there have been reports from other countries where people have died in colcanic eruptions due to negligence or lack of awareness.

Therefore, on behalf of the people of Kimin, we would like to request the Deputy Commissioner of the district to take necessary steps to cross-check and validate the GSI report, so that no stone is left unturned to avoid any major calamity due to wrong technical analysis/interpretation of the event.

Bamang Mangha, ZPM Kimin;
Tai Tayu, Chairperson, ASM, Kimin;
Nich Kojum;
Bamang Kumar, PRO, Eruption Site Committee.”

If the phenomenon was due to electrical short-circuit as claimed by GSI, then what could be the reason for emission of smoke and heat from the crater, still? Isn’t it time for the administration to step in and order re-investigation into the entire event/phenomenon?

Related Readings:

Eruption (?) at Arunachal-A Photo Feature
A Volcanic activity or…….?

Posted in Arunachal Pradesh | 6 Comments

Roh-pi Ritual – A Photo Feature

By AG | Published: September 13, 2007

Having never witnessed any ‘Roh-pi’ ritual before, I couldn’t resist myself from rushing to Hari village, when I heard that ‘Roh-pi’ ritual was going to be performed at Hari village; to witness the ritual live and to capture it on camera.

When I reached Hari village, people were almost ready- attired in war dresses armed with ‘dao’ (sword), bow and arrows, spears and with armours made up of bear skins to carry out the ritual.

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I was told that quite some days ago, the Mithun-owners of Hari village had found this wild cat (see pic of skin of the wild cat below) dead in their trap which was laid by them in desperation over the attack on their Mithun (Bos frontalis) – a semi-domesticated animal of high religious value and as the belief has over killing of feline, so this ritual. Below are the shots taken during the ritual.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketThe feline (skin) that led to performance of Roh-pi ritual

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPeople jumping over the dead animals skin at one of the Lapang- a community platform, as a part of Roh-pi ritual
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPart of ritual at Lapang

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketSkin of the animal being carried to ‘Ranti Hirung-bo’

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketRantii Hi-rung-bo (the sacred stone) where the eyes, tip of tongue and piece of heart of the animal, stuffed inside bamboo is buried underneath the stone.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPhoto Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketRituals after burial (Pic above)

Why Roh-pi ritual is performed?

It is widely believed by the Apatanis that when you kill a tiger or a leopard or some other member from cat’s family-which as the mythology suggests, is closely related to us and elder than us, the soul of that animal would haunt you and would take revenge on you. So, in order to subdue their soul so that they may not be able to take revenge on you, Roh-pi ritual is performed. It is also said that in olden times, the same rituals were performed by a person if the person murders or executes another person; and for the same reason.


Posted in Apatani Society, Photography, Through the lens of my Camera | 20 Comments

Tadar Taniang passes away

By AG | Published: September 11, 2007

A veteran Nyishi leader, Tadar Taniang, who was shifted to GNRC, Guwahati following a stroke on August 23rd, passed away on September 8th.

A teacher turned politician, he contested his first election as a Congress candidate from Nyapin Constituency during the year 1980.

He was Zila Parishad member from Nyapin from 1980-84 and was the president of Lower Subansiri District Congress Committee from 1985-90. He was minister of PHED, agriculture, civil supplies and legal metrology from the year 1989-1999 and had contested the 2005 Parliamentary Elections from Arunachal West constituency.


His sudden demise has created a void in the political scenario of the state that would take time to be filled and his contribution towards the society would be remembered by all.

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Eruption (?) at Arunachal – A Photo Feature

By AG | Published: September 3, 2007

O.k. after Wadia Institure of Himalayan Geology, the Deputy Director-General of Geological Survey of India S Basu Mallik, has confirmed that the unusual geological phenomenon reported at the night of August 21st was nothing geologic but a short-circuit caused by 33 KV high tension power line, generating a lot of heat that melted the powerline pole and also belched out smoke. But nevertheless, we (myself, Cho and Tallo) armed with camera, decided to pay a visit to that site which is some 89.6 Km away from Hapoli towards Kimin.

When we reached the spot we were amused to find people setting up shops to cash in on the events. We were told that an entry fee of Rs. 5/- was required from each and on being questioned why, they showed the signed letter of EAC Kimin which said ‘after threadbare discussion with the locals, it was decided an amount of Rs. 5/- would be charged from each visitor’ (not the exact word). As the EAC had empowered the people sitting over collection counter we paid 15/- bucks towards entry fee [no receipt was given] and headed to the spot where we took some shots of the spot and here they are-

Guardian of the site

Way to crater

Warning Plate
Crater
Crater (another angle)

Lava like substance
Close-up view
HT line over the crater (the probable culprit)

After hanging around for some 15 to 20 minutes, we left the spot with lots of question on our mind. When the spot has been declared hazardous by the administration, why people been let into the site that too after charging money? Why receipt was not given for entry fee? Would the money collected go to government’s treasury? Though GSI has declared that the cause for the 21st August night phenomenon was an electrical short circuit-we couldn’t digest it. The reason being-if it was electrical short circuit due to the HV line, how the crater was formed? Wouldn’t there only be molten metal part [of reported melted electric pole]? What was that ‘lava like’ substance and how it were formed?
Posted in Arunachal Pradesh, Photography, Through the lens of my Camera | 13 Comments