Kerala government declares Kochi shipwreck a State disaster
The Kerala government has declared the wreckage of the Liberian-flagged cargo ship, MSC ELSA-3, which sank 14.6 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala on May 24, a State-specific disaster.
Tinku Biswal, Principal Secretary of the State Disaster Management Department, stated that the shipwreck posed a potentially serious threat to Kerala's coast, both environmentally, socially, and economically.
Ms. Biswal stated in the government order that the maritime incident had raised serious environmental concerns, including the potential for oil spills and drifting of debris, including cargo containers, in the littoral waters abutting Kerala's 640 km coastline.
The order permits the State Disaster Management Authority to mobilise resources, including personnel and significant sums of money from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), for expeditious relief efforts.
The container ship, which had set course for Kochi from Vizhinjam, foundered after encountering heavy weather 38 km southwest of its port of call.
A perilous combination of heavy seas, possible hull leakage, mechanical failure and perhaps unbalanced cargo reportedly caused the ship to list heavily before capsizing and sinking. The Coast Guard rescued the ship's crew, comprising up to 21 individuals from various nationalities, including Russia and the Philippines.
The Customs department verified the ship's cargo manifesto. It said the sunk vessel threw 640 containers, including 12 containing hazardous incendiary material, overboard when it flipped over.
Thus far, at least 54 containers have washed ashore on the beaches of Kollam (43), Thiruvananthapuram (9), and Alappuzha (2). Nevertheless, flotsam from damaged containers battered by the high seas off Kerala's coast could wash up on the southern beaches of Kerala.
Piles of minute plastic and polythene granules washed ashore on the Thiruvananthapuram coast, raising the spectre of enduring microplastic pollution. The government has enlisted volunteers and launched a beach cleaning programme.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Two arrested for circulating woman's intimate photos on social media
Kendrapada: Two men were arrested Tuesday for allegedly circulating intimate pictures and videos of a 24-year-old woman on social media platforms in Kendrapada district. The accused, Ranjan Biswal of Patrapada village and Jagannath Sethi, a hospital attendant, were arrested following a complaint filed by the woman at Kendrapada town police station on Monday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to the FIR, Biswal had sexually exploited the woman for over six months under the false promise of marriage. He allegedly captured intimate pictures and videos of the women on his cell phone. When she ended the relationship, Biswal, with Sethi's help, leaked the private content across various social media platforms, including WhatsApp groups. "The incident came to light when the woman's relative informed her about the circulating content," said Dilip Sahoo, IIC of Kendrapada town police station. "During interrogation, Biswal confessed to Sethi's involvement in distributing the content," he said. The accused have been booked under sections 66(A), 66(C), and 67 of the Information Technology (Amendment) Act and Section 356 of BNS. Biswal faces additional charges under Section 69 of BNS for engaging in sexual intercourse under false promise of marriage. The local court rejected their bail applications and remanded them to jail custody.
India Gazette
6 hours ago
- India Gazette
Indian parliamentary delegation led by Shrikant Shinde concludes four-nation tour, departs Liberia for India
Monrovia [Liberia], June 3 (ANI): After concluding their four-nation diplomatic tour, the Indian parliamentary delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde departed from Monrovia, Liberia, for India. As part of the visit, the delegation travelled to the UAE, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone, engaging in high-level meetings to strengthen bilateral relations and promote India's global outreach. In a notable diplomatic milestone, Shrikant Shinde became the only Indian Member of Parliament to address the national parliaments of both Liberia and Sierra Leone. A statement from his office highlighted this historic outreach, calling it a step forward in deepening India's parliamentary and diplomatic ties with West Africa. Delivering a powerful speech in Liberia's Parliament, he emphasised the need for global unity against terrorism, highlighting India's long-standing struggle with the menace. 'Terrorism is no longer a regional threat; it is a global menace. As representatives from across India's political spectrum, we are here to expose this hidden war. India urges all nations to adopt a policy of zero tolerance toward terrorism,' said Shinde. Shinde stressed that terrorism knows no borders and urged all nations to adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism 'Terrorism knows no borders. The time has come for all countries to unite and support India's global campaign against terrorism,' said Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, as per the statement. The Indian delegation received a warm welcome from the Speaker of the Liberian Parliament, Richard Nagbe Koon, and Deputy Speaker Thomas P Fallah. In a meeting with Senate President Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, Shinde demanded that Pakistan be reinstated on the FATF grey list due to its ongoing support for terrorist groups. 'Pakistan has long been a hub for terror organizations. Despite its earlier placement on the FATF grey list, its support for terrorism continues unchecked. India strongly urges the international community to reinstate Pakistan on the FATF grey list,' the statement quoted Shinde as saying. Liberia assured its full support for India's anti-terrorism campaign, with the Liberian Senate observing a two-minute silence in memory of the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. On Monday, Shinde and the Indian delegation met with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and Foreign Affairs Minister Sarah Beslow Nyanti. Liberia assured its full support for India's anti-terrorism campaign. Speaker Koon also underscored the importance of regional unity among West African nations in the fight against terrorism. As a mark of solidarity, the Liberian Senate, on the direction of Senate President Karnga-Lawrence, observed a two-minute silence in memory of the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack in India, as per the statement. Reaffirming the enduring friendship between India and Liberia, Shinde noted the two nations' strong bilateral ties and India's support during Liberia's times of crisis. He expressed confidence that Liberia -- currently a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council -- would back India's anti-terrorism initiatives. As part of an African tour initiated under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an all-party parliamentary delegation led by Shinde arrived in Monrovia on Sunday. Shinde's visit strengthened bilateral ties between India and Liberia, with the Indian delegation receiving a warm welcome and ceremonial honors. The delegation also interacted with the Indian diaspora and visited the Gurudwara in Monrovia. As per the statement, Shinde expressed heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for entrusting him with the responsibility of leading this significant diplomatic mission. (ANI)
The Hindu
7 hours ago
- The Hindu
Shipwreck: State announces ₹1,000, 6 kg of rice to fishermen families
The State government will give ₹1,000 and 6 kg of rice to as many as 78,498 fishermen families and 27,020 families employed in the allied sectors in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, and Ernakulam districts as an interim measure. The solatium has been announced against the backdrop of the capsize of MSC Elsa 3 off the coast of Kerala, posing a significant threat to the marine ecosystem and environment, affecting the livelihood means of fishermen families and families in the allied sectors. Several containers and cargo parcels from the capsized Liberian-flagged cargo vessel washed ashore at these districts early. The Kerala government then declared the wreckage of the ship, which sank 14.6 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala on May 24, a State-specific disaster. The State has sanctioned ₹10.55 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund to meet the expense.
