Barren Volcano erupts

                  Fresh volcanic eruptions have been detected by Coast Guard personnel at Barren Island, 140 kms north east of Port Blair. Coast Guard ship Sagar and Dornier aircraft on patrol in Andaman and Nicobar seas have reported fresh eruption of lava and smoke on May 28 from the only live volcano in India on Barren Island, a Coast Guard release said here on 29^th May.

   The island, an uninhabited place, is accessible only to Coast Guard and naval ships maintaining regular patrol in the area, it said. The volcano was dormant since last few years and there were no volcanic activity even after tsunami that struck the Indian coastal areas on December 26, 2004, it added.

   Meanwhile, an A & N Command press release received here confirmed the Barren volcano becoming active with sighting of lava by the defence personnel who visited the island recently. The eruption appears to be intermittent as the smoke and flames are being seen frequently, the release added.