Containers from capsized ship spotted along Kerala coast, govt asks people to stay away

The Coast Guard had on Sunday said the sunken ship was carrying 640 containers, including 13 containing “hazardous cargo” and 12 with calcium carbide. Additionally, the ship had 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil in its tanks.

Subsequently, the state government had sounded an alert along the coast, mainly in central and southern Kerala, where the containers from the sunken ship were likely to reach in heavy wind and currents. Besides, there has been an alert against the oil slick from ship, which can reach anywhere along the Kerala coast, the government said.

The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, had stated that based on hypothetical simulations, the spilled oil pollutant can reach the coastal stretch of Alappuzha, Ambalapuzha, Arattupuzha and Karunagappally within 36-48 hours of release. These coastal zones are at risk of contamination and should be given prompt attention to minimise potential environmental impact.”

Kerala disaster management authority on Monday warned people going near the containers that drifted to the shore. People were asked to remain at least 200 metres away from the containers considering reports that certain containers have hazardous materials. The containers will be examined by Customs to ascertain the stuff.

The state government has asked the Factories and Boilers Department to make ready two Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) each in southern and central Kerala districts, and one each in the northern districts. Besides, in the event of oil slick reaching the shore, the state pollution control board was directed to make ready two RRTs each in the southern and central coastal districts and one each in the northern districts.

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