High court questions public funding for Kerala ship mishaps
After two major ship incidents off Kerala's coast—a sunken cargo vessel and a burning container ship—the Kerala High Court is asking why taxpayers should foot the cleanup bill. The court wants both state governments to act fast and recover costs from the shipping companies instead.
One ship sank, another caught fire
On May 24, MSC Elsa 3 sank near Thottappally with 640 containers full of hazardous materials and tons of fuel onboard, sparking serious worries about oil spills harming the sea. The Kerala government has given those responsible just 48 hours to remove leaking oil or face legal action. Meanwhile, MV Wan Hai 503 caught fire on June 9; four crew members are still missing. The court says civil and criminal charges may be needed against the companies involved, with another hearing set for June 19 to check on progress.