Cryptic Container at Kerala Coast Triggers Alarm Over Chemical Spill

Last Updated May - 30 - 2025, 01:01 PM | Source : Fela News

Container, coastal, Kerala, May 25, Vizhinjam, Cochin, 640, chemicals, calcium carbide, flammable, oil, diesel, furnace, sank, Paravur, beach, Valsala, fish, fo

On May 25, a strange brown container washed up on Paravur Beach (Kerala), cause crowds of curious locals. It was one of many lost when a cargo ship sank while traveling between Vizhinjam and Cochin. The ship carried 640 containers 13 of which held hazardous chemicals like calcium carbide, known to release flammable gas on contact with water.

The vessel also transported diesel and furnace oil, adding to the environmental risk. As people gathered near the coast snapping selfies and speculating about the container, only a few, like local fish-seller Valsala, realized the gravity of the situation. “This is not just something to talk about,” she said, watching the foam rising in polluted waters.

She worries no one will buy fish anymore. “The sea has changed,” she adds. Her fears are shared by many as the coastal economy heavily dependent on fishing faces uncertain days ahead.

Indian Navy Coast Guards have since started clean-up efforts, working to recover the containers and limit the damage from the oil spill. But for locals like Valsala, the worry is whether the trust in the sea will ever return.