Mangaluru: Abandoned dredger ‘Tridevi Prem’ sinks off Karnataka coast
Mangaluru, Sep 4: A dredging vessel anchored about 2.5 nautical miles off New Mangalore Port sank into the sea, New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) sources said on Wednesday.
The stricken vessel, 'Tridevi Prem,' owned by Mercator based in Mumbai was in the outer anchorage for last six months after the company abandoned the dredging tender in between and the 13-member crew reported of flooding in the vessel on midnight Sunday.
The crew abandoned the vessel and escaped in their lifeboat and were later rescued in a joint operation by the Indian Coast Guard and NMPT on Monday.
The abandoned vessel sank around 2.40 am on Tuesday, NMPT chairman A V Ramana said.
The port has geared up to handle the possible oil spill from the sunken vessel, he said, adding multiple agencies were working on it.
The fuel in the vessel is low sulphur high-speed diesel which is not very harmful to the environment.
However, the port has taken all precautionary measures like handling black oil.
The port's pollution control vessel is deployed with booms to contain the oil spill and Coast Guard is also alerted, he said.
District administration, Director General of Shipping and all concerned agencies are informed about the incident.
A police complaint has been filed against the dredging company and the crew for abandoning the vessel, the chairman said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Elephant calf brought from Bijnor kept under care at Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
Pilibhit (PTI): A 19-day-old elephant calf, brought from Bijnor, was placed under care at the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) on Sunday, an official said and added that the calf got separated from its mother in the forest area of Bijnor.
The calf was born on December 2 in the Bijnor forest area and got separated from its mother shortly after birth, the official said.
The forest department made several attempts to reunite it with its mother, but without any success. To ensure the calf's safety and better care, it was decided to transfer it to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve on the instructions of senior officials.
On Saturday, Deputy Director Manish Singh received the calf. Special arrangements have been made in the reserve for its care. It has been kept in a safe and clean environment to provide it with a natural setting and protect it from external noise and disturbances.
Singh told reporters that raising an 19-day-old calf is challenging.
It requires a special diet as a substitute for mother's milk and constant monitoring.
He said a special team has been formed to provide 24-hour care. Since the calf is very young, it is being cared for like a newborn baby.
According to Singh, the primary responsibility for monitoring the calf's health has been entrusted to PTR's veterinarian, Dr Daksh Gangwar. Under his supervision, a complete record of the calf's health checkups, diet, and body temperature is being maintained. The team is ensuring that the calf does not contract any infection.
