Three container tanks wash ashore on Kutch coast in four days

Kutch: An unusual incident has come to light along the Arabian Sea coast in western Kutch, where three large container tanks have washed ashore in the past four days in Abdasa taluka. While this stretch of coastline has previously seen unclaimed packets of narcotics drifting in during the off-season, the washing ashore of massive container tanks has now raised concerns among authorities.

On August 7, during a patrol, Jakhau Marine Police spotted two container tanks drifting near Saiyed Suleman Pir and Shiyal Bari, partially submerged in seawater. On Sunday, a third similar tank was found floating off the Sutri coast by Kothara Police.

Following the latest discovery, personnel from the Police, Gram Rakshak Dal (GRD) and Sagar Rakshak Dal (SRD) rushed to the site. The heavy tank near Sutri was partially submerged, and efforts are underway to bring it ashore.

Kothara Police Station in-charge, PI V. M. Zala, said that a preliminary investigation suggests the containers may have fallen from a crude oil vessel. “Further details will emerge once the containers are retrieved from the water,” he added.

Police have informed senior officials of the Coast Guard and Customs about the containers. As a follow-up, officials from both agencies are expected to inspect them. DeshGujarat