6 days ago
No toxic materials in sea, clean-up underway: Kanyakumari collector
Kanyakumari: Experts have confirmed that no toxic substances were detected in the sea along the Midalam and Kodimunai coasts after debris from the sunken cargo vessel MSC Elsa 3 washed ashore, Kanyakumari district collector R Alagu Meena, said in a statement on Tuesday.
The statement followed a site inspection and expert assessment initiated under the directive of chief minister M K Stalin.
The cargo vessel, which sank off the Kochi coast on May 25 due to an engine failure, had several containers that drifted with the current and eventually reached the Kanyakumari shoreline. Items found along the coast included plastic pellets, wooden boxes, and cashew nut sacks.
The collector stated that teams of experts found no contamination in seawater, ruling out the presence of any toxic materials.
The retrieved items are currently secured under the jurisdiction of respective panchayats, municipalities, and town panchayats. One entire container was handed over to the Tuticorin customs department for further investigation.
In the meantime, clean-up operations are being carried out in full swing by the disaster management department's Aapda Mitra volunteers, local officials, civic bodies, and elected representatives. The administration is also conducting public awareness campaigns in coastal fishing villages to ensure residents remain informed and calm. Authorities assured the public that the situation is under control and that necessary measures are being taken to restore normalcy along the affected coastal stretches.
