Debris From Sunken Cargo Ship Affects 22 Coastal Villages In the Southernmost State of India

Around 22 villages in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, India, are impacted by the wreckage from the sunken Liberian-flagged cargo ship, MSC ELSA-3, which sank off the coast of Kerala on May 24, 2025.

Per reports, the debris, including pellets, a container and wooden logs, washed ashore in the village, causing security concerns and covering the beautiful beaches of the region.

In one of the villages, people found bags of cashew nuts and iron rods, after which the authorities responded.

A 3-member expert team from a shipping firm based in Gujarat, accompanied by a coastal police commandant and 8 personnel, reached on Friday to support salvage operations.

NGO volunteers and local conservancy workers have been tirelessly working to remove the debris from the beaches.

To further boost the response efforts, the Kanyakumari district administration established a 24/7 control room for the people to report any debris sightings.

The ship was carrying 640 containers, 13 filled with hazardous cargo and 12 having calcium carbide.

It also had 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 tonnes of furnace oil on board.

The immediate impact of the vessel’s sinking was felt along the coasts of Kerala, but now the debris has begun to wash ashore.

References: Madhyamam, The Hawk