The Butterfly effect, the famous variation of the Chaos theory of mathematics, explains how the flutter of wings of a butterfly in the Mediterranean can produce a gust of wind, which can lead to chain of events, eventually resulting in a devastating cyclone in the Indian ocean.

But there is something else, other than profound math theories, which is causing considerable amazement in Chandigarh. This rainy season, there has been an extraordinary increase in the population of butterflies in the city.

Now, unlike the United States or Canada, which conduct, authorised butterfly censuses, every year, their population in India or Chandigarh cannot be pinpointed with exactitude, but visual evidence is strong.

Take a peek at the myriad gardens and the floral roundabouts of the city beautiful and you would see swarms of butterflies making merry. Morbid superstitions suggest that this is a tell-tale sign of an impending earthquake. But experts don’t think that delightful creatures like these have any macabre connotation.

Dr Varinder Walia, Professor of Zoology, in Panjab University, said, “The fact that you see so many butterflies is a bio indicator. These delicate creatures don’t survive in polluted environment. This shows that the environment quality in Chandigarh is very good.” But then, even after considering Chandigarh’s excellent environment, there seems to be a dramatic rise in the population of these creatures in the last few months. Some experts think that it could be partly due to the weather conditions this year with late and deficient rains.

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