The Kerala police have filed a case against the owner, master, and crew of the Liberian-flagged container ship MSC Elsa 3, which sank off the state’s coast on May 24. The incident occurred near Alappuzha district while the vessel was reportedly transporting hazardous and combustible cargo.
An FIR has been lodged at Fort Kochi Coastal police station, citing multiple offenses under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including rash navigation and negligent conduct concerning poisonous and combustible substances. The complaint alleges that the negligent handling of the ship led to its sinking, causing significant environmental damage and impacting local fishermen’s livelihoods.
The complaint was initiated by Alappuzha resident C. Shamji. According to the Ministry of Defence, the ship was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous materials, 12 containing calcium carbide, and substantial quantities of diesel and furnace oil.
The Congress party has criticized the Kerala government for delaying legal action against the ship’s operators, emphasizing the urgent need for swift proceedings due to the extensive environmental harm and its repercussions on the coastal fishing community.
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