A major alert has been declared across Kerala’s coast after a cargo ship carrying dangerous materials sank in the Arabian Sea near Kochi.
The incident happened early Sunday when the Liberian-flagged vessel, MSC ELSA 3, tilted sharply and eventually capsized about 38 nautical miles from the shore.
The ship was en route from Vizhinjam port to Kochi when it suffered flooding in one of its compartments. Fortunately, all 24 crew members were rescued in a coordinated operation led by the Indian Navy. But the ship’s cargo and fuel have raised serious environmental and safety concerns.
Authorities have confirmed that the vessel was carrying 640 containers, including 13 loaded with hazardous substances and 12 filled with calcium carbide, a chemical that produces flammable gas when it contacts water. In addition to the cargo, the ship held over 450 metric tonnes of diesel and furnace oil, which have started leaking into the sea.
Since Sunday, containers have been spotted drifting toward the shore, forcing nearby coastal residents to evacuate. The area is not only densely populated but also ecologically sensitive and a popular tourist destination. With oil slicks already forming, the risk to marine life and human health is growing.
In response, the Kerala state government has sounded a high alert along the entire coastal stretch. Officials have urged residents to avoid touching any cargo or oil that may wash ashore. Fishermen have been advised to stay away from the sunken vessel and surrounding waters.
Pollution control efforts have been intensified. The Indian Coast Guard has sent a ship equipped with anti-pollution tools and deployed an aircraft with oil spill detection systems to monitor the affected zone. Cleanup and containment work is underway, but rough sea conditions have made the task more difficult.
While the immediate priority is containing the spread of pollutants, authorities are also investigating how the ship came to be carrying such dangerous cargo near a densely populated coast. The focus now is to prevent further environmental damage and ensure the safety of local communities.