Ramgarh crater caused by meteorite impact, claim experts
Baran ( Raj), Jun 9: Since the 19th century, Ramgarh Crater has evoked the interest of geologists and now a team of scientists is in Rajasthan’s Baran district to solve the mystery of its origin and believe they have evidence to prove it was caused by meteorite impact.
With a diameter of 3.2 kilometre and elevation of more than 200 metre above the surrounding terrain, it was first discovered by the Geological Survey of India in 1869. Nearly a century later in 1960, it was recognised as a ‘ Crater’ by the Geological Society of London. A four- member team fom Geological Survey of India, and the National Trust for Art and Culture Heritage central office, New Delhi, visited the site yesterday to collect evidence related to the origin of the crater in Ramgarh village of the district.
“A huge meteorite of about three kilometres diametre about 75,000 crore years ago is likely to have fallen here creating a trench of about 4 km diameter,” Prof Vinod Agrawal of the team said on Saturday.
According to experts, there are two recognised craters in India - Lonar Lake in Buldhana district of Maharashtra and another in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh.
“The centrally uplifted region of Ramgarh Crater is a live evidence of meteorite impact and is an ideal location as per well- established and internationally- approved criteria for meteorite presence,” Agrawal said. There are several other evidence in Ramgarh structure that will prove the meteorite impact theory, he added.
Pushpendra Singh Ranawat, geologists and coordinator of the team, said it was a very rare site in India and has got multifaceted significance that include geo- heritage aspect.
“It is a general presumption that when something falls, it makes equal and opposite reaction and the centrally uplifted region of Ramgarh structure is an evidence of meteorite impact beyond challenge,” he said.
He said the process for getting the structure recognised has been started and it is almost certain that Ramgarh Crater would soon get recognised by global agency in Canada as 191st crater in the world, third in India and first in Rajasthan.