People crowd to taste 'miracle water' in Mumbai and Gujarat

As people thronged Mahim beach in Mumbai to taste 'miracle' water after reports of sea water turning sweet spread across the city, the scientific community and government agencies sounded a warning against consumption of such water, while a similar incident was reported from the coastal area of Teethal in Valsad district of Gujarat.

"We would appeal to people not to consume water from the creek or for that matter any sea water as it is highly unpotable and contaminated," Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation commissioner Johnny Joseph told reporters in Mumbai.

In Gujarat, sea water samples from the coastal area of Teethal in Valsad district, where a similar incident was reported, were sent for testing on Saturday.

"The Arabian sea water indeed has turned a bit sweeter. Samples have been taken and sent to laboratories in Pune for testing," Valsad district development officer Indrish Vora who tasted the `sweet' water told PTI in Ahmedabad.

Hundreds of city residents thronged Mahim beach, following reports of sea water turning sweet even as Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and government agencies cautioned them on Saturday against drinking water from the creek.

Chief Minister Deshmukh has appealed to the people not to drink the water as it could contain 'dangerous substances'.