Latest news with #TamilNaduStateDisasterManagementAuthority
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Business Standard
5 days ago
- Climate
- Business Standard
TN on alert for toxic debris after Liberia-registered ship sinks off Kerala
The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority is monitoring the possibility of hazardous materials, spilt from the Liberia-flagged container vessel MSC ELSA 3, washing ashore the state's coast. As of now, no hazardous materials have been found on Tamil Nadu's coastline, the officials said. The ship was involved in an accident off the Kerala coast on May 24, during the onset of the southwest monsoon, resulting in the spillage of fuel, plastic particles, and hazardous cargo containers into the sea. Due to the intensifying southwest monsoon, plastic debris, containers, and other materials have been drifting and washing ashore along the coasts of Kerala and the southern coastal regions of Kanyakumari district. The ship's sinking has left a trail of debris along the Kerala coastline. Several containers from the vessel have washed ashore in various locations, including the Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts. Efforts are being made to remove them. The vessel, carrying 24 crew members, had reported technical issues and was tilting soon after departing from Vizhinjam port. The Indian Navy and Coast Guard responded promptly to the distress call, deploying ships INS Satpura and INS Sujatha to the scene. Despite adverse weather conditions, including wind speeds of up to 40 knots and debris in the water, the Coast Guard successfully rescued all 24 crew members. The crew member attributed the incident to a technical problem with some systems, rather than a collision. They mentioned that the situation worsened due to adverse weather conditions and the age of the vessel. Earlier, a meeting was held under the leadership of Chief Secretary A Jayathilak with officials and district collectors in the background of the sinking of the Liberian container ship MSC ELSA 3 off the Kochi coast. The ship completely sank 14.6 nautical miles from the Thottapalli spillway. About 100 containers may have fallen into the sea. The ship's fuel oil has also leaked. However, all the crew members of the ship have been rescued.
India Gazette
5 days ago
- General
- India Gazette
TN authorities alert for toxic debris washing ashore after Liberia-registered ship sinks off Kerala coast
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], May 30 (ANI): The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority is monitoring the possibility of hazardous materials, spilt from the Liberia-flagged container vessel MSC ELSA 3, washing ashore the state's coast. As of now, no hazardous materials have been found on Tamil Nadu's coastline, the officials said. The ship was involved in an accident off the Kerala coast on May 24, during the onset of the southwest monsoon, resulting in the spillage of fuel, plastic particles, and hazardous cargo containers into the sea. Due to the intensifying southwest monsoon, plastic debris, containers, and other materials have been drifting and washing ashore along the coasts of Kerala and the southern coastal regions of Kanyakumari district. The ship's sinking has left a trail of debris along the Kerala coastline. Several containers from the vessel have washed ashore in various locations, including the Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts. Efforts are being made to remove them. The vessel, carrying 24 crew members, had reported technical issues and was tilting soon after departing from Vizhinjam port. The Indian Navy and Coast Guard responded promptly to the distress call, deploying ships INS Satpura and INS Sujatha to the scene. Despite adverse weather conditions, including wind speeds of up to 40 knots and debris in the water, the Coast Guard successfully rescued all 24 crew members. The crew member attributed the incident to a technical problem with some systems, rather than a collision. They mentioned that the situation worsened due to adverse weather conditions and the age of the vessel. Earlier, a meeting was held under the leadership of Chief Secretary A Jayathilak with officials and district collectors in the background of the sinking of the Liberian container ship MSC ELSA 3 off the Kochi coast. The ship completely sank 14.6 nautical miles from the Thottapalli spillway. About 100 containers may have fallen into the sea. The ship's fuel oil has also leaked. However, all the crew members of the ship have been rescued. (ANI)
Hans India
6 days ago
- General
- Hans India
Plastic Nurdles from sunk container ship off Kochi coast wash ashore in TN, raising alarm for Gulf of Mannar
Environmental concerns are mounting following the sinking of the container ship MSC ELSA 3 off the coast of Kerala, as plastic nurdles — tiny pre-production plastic pellets — have begun washing ashore in Tamil Nadu's Kanniyakumari district and are posing a threat for the eco-sensitive Gulf of Mannar. The Liberia-flagged vessel sank on May 25, approximately 38 nautical miles off the coast between Vizhinjam and Kochi. It was carrying 640 containers, including 13 classified as hazardous, along with substantial quantities of diesel and furnace oil. The incident has led to a widespread dispersion of cargo, including plastic pellets, in the Arabian Sea. In a worrying development, large quantities of nurdles packed in 25-kg bags began washing up on Kanyakumari beaches by Wednesday afternoon. These pellets had already been reported on the shores of Thiruvananthapuram earlier this week. Authorities believe prevailing ocean currents are pushing the spill southward, with the potential to impact the ecologically fragile Gulf of Mannar on the east coast. The Gulf of Mannar is a critical marine biosphere reserve, home to coral reefs, seagrass meadows, dugongs, and sea turtles. Experts warn that if the nurdles continue to drift eastward, the damage to this sensitive ecosystem could be severe. Plastic nurdles are not inherently toxic but pose serious environmental threats. Due to their small size and resemblance to fish eggs, they are easily consumed by marine animals, leading to internal blockages, malnutrition, and death. Nurdles also absorb toxic pollutants from seawater, which can then enter the marine food chain and potentially affect human health. Unlike oil spills, which can often be contained and cleaned, nurdles are buoyant and highly mobile. Once dispersed by tides and wind, they are virtually impossible to recover, making clean-up operations extremely challenging. Officials from the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority, the Department of Environment, and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board are working with local authorities to formulate an emergency response plan. Meanwhile, a fact-finding committee formed by the Union Environment Ministry convened in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday to assess the situation. This marks India's first major plastic nurdle spill caused by a shipwreck. A similar incident in May 2021 off Sri Lanka's west coast released 1,680 tonnes of plastic pellets into the sea, but ocean currents at the time spared the Gulf of Mannar from contamination.
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Mock rehearsal on safety measures during floods to be held in Tiruppur district
: Under the instructions of the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority, mock rehearsals on safeguarding lives and minimising property loss will take place in Tiruppur district on Thursday at two villages prone to flooding from dams during heavy rainfall during the monsoon months. District Collector T. Christuraj said in a press release that Jallipatti and Kozhuman revenue villages, which are prone to flooding due to the release of water from Thirumoorthy and Amaravathy dams, will witness the Civil Defence Mock Rehearsal from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Mock drill tests emergency preparedness at Kudankulam plant
1 2 Madurai: Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority conducted a civil defence mock exercise as advised by the ministry of home affairs, govt of India at Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) in Tirunelveli district, and in North Chennai Thermal Power Station, unit-2, Athipattu on Friday mock drill simulated events to check the preparedness of the civil defence system to handle an air raid in a war-like emergency. During the exercise, protection, safe evacuation, and first aid were state emergency operation centre (SEOC), the district emergency operation centre (DEOC) at Tiruvallur district, and the local control rooms at KKNPP and North Chennai thermal power station were activated. The district officials, state commando forces, home guards, Tamil Nadu fire and rescue services, Tamil Nadu Disaster Response Force, National Disaster Response Force, Central Industrial Security Force, and medical teams participated in the continuation of it, the authority proposed to conduct the mock exercise at V O Chidambaranar Port Authority at Tuticorin and Thoothukudi thermal power station in Tuticorin district on Saturday evening. Operation Sindoor How India shut down Pakistan's second desperate bid to escalate tensions Pak used civilian planes as shield to launch failed drone attack: India S-400, Spyder, Akash: What is in India's air defence arsenal? During this mock drill, activities will be undertaken in these two vital installations to check the preparedness of the systems to handle any kind of civil defence exercise is only a mock drill to check the preparedness in the selected vital installations. All other functions in other places will go on normally. There is no need for any panic or apprehension among the public about this exercise, said a statement.
