🌋 The Silent Volcanoes of India: Are We Ignoring a Dormant Threat?

Barren Island – South Asia’s Only Active Volcano

Barren Island, located in the Andaman Sea about 135 km northeast of Port Blair, is India’s only confirmed active volcano . Rising 354 m above sea level on a volcanic arc, it has erupted intermittently since 1787, with eruptions recorded in 1991, 2005–07, 2017–18, and most recently in late 2022–24 .

Satellite and VAAC reports have confirmed ash plumes up to 2.4 km in April 2024, part of the ongoing volcanic activity . Meanwhile, marine life—including healthy coral reefs and manta rays—thrives around the island despite eruptions .

🧩 India’s Dormant & Extinct Volcanic Sites

Beyond Barren Island, India hosts several geological remnants:

Narcondam Island in the Andamans—a dormant volcanic island .

Mainland volcanic heritage like Dhinodhar Hill and Tosham Hill in Gujarat and Haryana, dormant for hundreds of millions of years .

Baratang Island hosts mud volcanoes, actively seeping gas and heat—distinct but linked geologically .

🛑 Why We Should Care Now

Tectonic context: Barren Island sits at the plate boundary between the Indian and Burmese plates—potentially reawakened by seismic activity .

Risk of reactivation in seemingly dormant sites like Narcondam—carrying unknown consequences.

Limited monitoring: Unlike major global volcanoes, India’s volcanic regions remain inadequately studied and are often overlooked.

🔬 Scientific & Safety Implications

Space-based observation: NASA and Sentinel satellites continue tracking ash, thermal anomalies, and gas emissions .

Disaster preparedness: Unlike active nations like the US or Japan, India lacks contingency planning for volcanic crises—though coastal communities could be impacted by ash fallout or air traffic disruption.

🌎 What’s at Stake?

Aviation hazard: Ash plumes disrupt regional flights into and from the Andamans—already monitored by the Darwin VAAC .

Ecotourism threat: Barren Island draws niche eco-tour traffic, with boat trips and diving groups seeing around ₹25,000–1.5 L per tour—but safety risks persist .

Scientific opportunity: These volcanoes—especially dormant or extinct ones—offer untapped opportunities to study Earth’s history, plate dynamics, and future hazards.

⚠️ Disclaimer

This article is based on publicly available satellite observations, geological records, and travel reports as of mid-2025. It is not a scientific risk assessment; refer to official geological agencies for emergency protocols.