India, May 24 -- Situation especially serious in Gulf of Mannar, while Palk Bay reefs still in relatively better condition

The Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay, located off the southeast coast of India, separate the country from Sri Lanka and are known as rich coral hotspots. Recently, they have experienced coral bleaching and die-offs similar to those seen in Australia's Great Barrier Reef, an official told Down To Earth ( DTE ).

According to Purvaja Ramachandran, director of the Chennai-based National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, the bleaching and die-offs are taking place primarily due to the El Nino effect, which has led to increased sea surface temperatures in these regions.

El Nino is the warmer phase of the El Nino Sout...