Fishermen and beach visitors in the southern Indian city of Chennai were shocked to see the entire coastline from Ennore to Tiruvanmiyur filled with foam on Thursday. /VCG Photo

An Indian fisherman pulls in his fishing net as foamy discharge mixes with surf at a beach in Chennai, India. /VCG Photo Photo

Questions are being raised whether it is a sign that the city's overburdened wastewater system could have, once again, been spurting raw sewage into the sea. Forty-eight hours later after a lasting heavy rain, highly-polluted water was brought from Adyar River into the sea, Indian Express newspaper said. /VCG  

Is it an indicator of increased organic matter or pollution? High levels of pollutants (sewage) and industrial waste in the city were the cause of the foam, said Ramana Murthy, director at National Centre for Coastal Research. When large quantities of these pollutants are washed ashore because of high winds, foaming occurs. /VCG Photo