Watch: The hefty environmental cost of a shipwreck
| Video Credit:
L. Balachandar
Ocean currents had carried the wreckage to south Tamil Nadu. Villages along the coast—Neerody, Midalam, Vallavilai, Erayumanthurai—reported bags of nurdles, iron rods, and even cashew nuts.

Alerted by vigilant fishermen, the Tamil Nadu government launched clean-up operations. Conservancy workers and volunteers were deployed. Protective gear was worn. Bags were collected, labelled, and moved to nearby harbours.
From Vallavilai to Dhanushkodi, thousands of kilos of nurdles were cleared. But the effort was only just beginning.
Reporting: C. Palanivel Rajan, Shankari Nivethitha B.
Camera: L. Balachandar
Script: Shikha Kumari
Voiceover: Sharmada V
Production: Shivaraj S, Thamodharan B
Published – June 17, 2025 12:48 pm IST