Advisory: leave containers alone

“We have issued a fresh advisory as some of the 31 containers that are hazardous may be found on the shore. The numbers of the containers are being circulated and people should not open or touch these containers. They are highly hazardous,” said Valsa Nair-Singh,state environment secretary.

She added six containers have pesticides and five soluble sodium hydroxide,which is inflammable. “We don’t want to risk people tampering with or opening the containers with hazardous materials. Authorities like police and revenue officials should be informed if any is spotted,” said Nair-Singh.

Municipal labs are checking nearly 500 kg of fish samples and the BMC directed all its markets to stop selling fish from anywhere near the city shores.

Reports of fish samples collected from Sassoon Dock,Sewree dock and Bhaucha Dhakka are not yet in. “The report may take a couple of days to arrive. We have stopped sales to be on the safe side,” said additional municipal commissioner Manisha Mhasikar.The sale of big fish that are largely imported from other states is unaffected; that of smaller,locally found fish has taken a hit.

The fisheries department has been directed by the government to test samples from landing locations like Sasoon Dock.

The BMC is also readying a plan for cordoning off beaches if too much oil is found. “As per the orders of municipal commissioner Swadheen Kshatriya,we have readied an action plan. If the situation gets serious we might have to close down parts of these seafronts and beaches. However,as of now,such a need has not been felt,” said chief fire officer Uday Tatkare,whose department is responsible for beach safety.

Operation salvage

* INS Yamuna surveyed port’s navigational channel at 6 am and identified three containers sunk there,says Director General of Shipping. The exercise will help salvage experts from Singapore and Rotterdam unclog navigational route. Ten containers towed away.

* Minister for Ports Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil visits site,says salvage operation could be completed by Thursday. “There is no need to panic at the moment about petroleum products in the city. We have enough reserves till Monday. There should be no problem once we get clearance from the Navy which will conduct the mapping Thursday,” said Vikhe-Patil.

* Raigad district authorities tie 4 floating containers to Uran coast. These could have posed a danger to boats between Mumbai and Mora (Uran).

* A boatman ferrying a TV channel crew to the collision site tripped and drowned in the morning. Coast Guard team initiated search but could not save the youth. Coast Guard sent advisory to media and others against venturing out for photography and videography.