Beach-goers were left stunned as the sea off Pondicherry turned a reddish tinge on October 17.

Environmental experts claim the colour change could be down to an algae bloom known as red tide - a toxic algae known to be harmful to marine life.

Water samples have been taken and officials await the results of the tests.

The entire stretch of coastal waters from Vaithikuppam on the northern side of the Promenade, up until Gandhi statue has become red, reportedly due to algal bloom. The reddish tinge was observed over the past one week at several patches along the coastline, local residents said

Environmental Experts have said this could be due to algal bloom. officials said samples of the water have been taken, and the results are awaited

Red Tide is a toxic algal bloom and is known to be harmful to marine life. The exact reason can be ascertained only after a chemical and biological analysis of the water samples is done.”