CHENNAI: After creating panic on the coast of Kerala, a cargo container and many parcels from the sunken ship floated and found their way to Kanniyakumari near Colachel in the early hours of Thursday. High winds and tidal surges forced the container down onto the muddy shore.

Kanniyakumari Collector R Alagumeena, revenue and fisheries officials, and Coastal Security Group personnel inspected the spot and alerted the Indian Coast Guard, sources said.

Some local fishermen said similar-sized parcels and some wooden logs were also found near the shores of Thengapattanam, Enayam and Chinnathurai. Cargo bags were found on the shores of 12 villages in Killiyur taluk alone, they said.

Days after the wreckage of the Liberian-flagged cargo ship - MSC ELSA 3 off the sea in Kochi on May 25, the District Administration convened a meeting at Thengapattanam fishing harbour with officials and representatives of the fishermen association. The participants were advised to share information on the spillage to ensure swift action and were cautioned not to come in contact with any parcel found in the sea.

About 600 cargo containers have fallen into the sea in the wreckage, with many social media outlets speculating oil spillage is spreading about two nautical miles off Neerodi, a hamlet in Kerala. This has put the southern coast on high alert.

When contacted, Collector Alagumeena clarified that a team of five experts, who were involved in the cleanup in Thiruvananthapuram and recovering containers in Gujarat, were on the way to Kanniyakumari. These experts were employed by an agency of the shipping company.

After the incident, public access to parts of Vaniyakudi Beach was cut off. The washed ashore parcels, which contain plastic granules, are being removed from around 20 coastal villages with the aid of 300 personnel, including first responders, local body representatives and sanitary workers using shovels. Those parcels cleared were being safely maintained on the premises of BDO offices, the Collector said.