At a place where aqua wealth is a scarce commodity, thousands are queuing up every day to take bath or even drink the `magical' water oozing out from a white-stone quarry, believed to be curing numerous ailments.

The open space around the 50-foot deep quarry has virtually been converted into a bathing arena.

Although the results of the water samples sent to the laboratory at Karnal for analysis are yet to come, some experts believe that the `magical' water contains sulphur content which is known for curing skin diseases. However, what has been baffling them is the teeming up of patients suffering from muscular dystrophy, respiratory disorders, paralysis, nervous disorders and certain irreversible skin disorders like leucoderma. Medical experts say that the water may have some curative value due to sulphur content but they are yet to see a case where a patient has been fully cured.

Dr V.D. Bhardwaj, civil surgeon, Mahendergarh said, ``we have not found a single case at the site which has been fully cured.'' Dr Bhardwaj is of the opinion that patients suffering from muscular disorder, affliction of bones, nervous disorders, paralysis can not be cured with this kind of an exercise. ``It is more due to the hype generated by the media that people are thronging this place,'' he adds.

A place used to the slow pace of camel carts is suddenly flooded with caravans of Esteems, Zens, Sumos as people from far-off places such as MP, Gujarat, Punjab, UP are lining up to wash their ailments away.

According to one story doing the rounds, it all started two months ago when a leper, Sanwara of Kharkhar village in Sikar district came here.

``The water has been there for almost 10-15 years. However, it's magical value came to light when Sanwara got cured after bathing with this water, says Raghubir, member of gram panchayat. Gradually, the news spread to the adjoining villages and people started flocking here. The temple of a saint, Bharathari which is barely yards away from the quarry has attached religious values with this place.

Interestingly, the district administration is also thinking on the lines of endowing this place with the status of a religious shrine.

Deputy Commissioner, Mahendergarh, S.S. Prasad while speaking to The Indian Express outlined his programme. ``What we are going to do is cordon off the quarry first. Since hordes of people are camping there, there is the danger of the earth caving in. Thus, we will fence it and install motors to lift the water which will be stored in the tanks.''

But for the people who have been camping here for days and even those who have arrived hours before, their faith remains unshakable. Satyabir, an electrician who has come from Delhi says, ``I had this rash all over my skin and there were small incisions but after taking bath in the mystical water the incisions have healed.''

Amazing is the story of a rickshaw puller from Kothputli in Rajasthan, Radhey Shyam. He says that his wife, Rekha had trouble in walking and she stammered while speaking ``but after drinking this water there is lot of improvement,'' he claims that his wife who continues to stammer says in a stuttering voice that she was feeling much better now.

``My daughter had white marks on her face since the past one and a half year but after bathing four times in this holy water, they have turned reddish and are waning,'' says Subhash, father of six-year old Monika while showing her marks.

Another intriguing case is that of Mangal of Budhawal village suffering from paralysis on his left side. He now maintains that after three baths the stiffness in his fingers has gone and he can even move his arm.

Ashok Srivastava who has come from Muraina district in MP believes that the water surely has some curative properties.