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Three containers washed ashore in Palghar district, with two at Satpati beach and one at Shirgaon beach. Authorities cordoned off the area and launched investigations.
Container found washed ashore in the coastal areas of Palghar, Maharashtra (Photo: News18)
Three suspicious containers were found washed ashore in the coastal areas of Maharashtra’s Palghar district on Sunday.
According to the details, while two of the containers were found on the Satpati beach, one was found on Shirgaon beach, sparking a swift response from security and disaster management agencies.
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Soon after the containers were found, authorities put coastal villages on alert and intensified patrolling on beaches.
Upon receiving the alert, the Indian Coast Guard and Palghar Police rushed to the scene and cordoned off the area to prevent public access.
“We received information about three unidentified containers being washed up on the Palghar coast. Two were found near Satpati beach and one on Shirgaon beach,” news agency PTI quoted Vivekanand Kadam, Chief of the Disaster Management Cell of Palghar, as saying.
Efforts to inspect the containers were complicated by tidal conditions. The rising sea made it difficult for authorities to reach the exact locations of the containers, which remained partially submerged, it was known.
“Due to high tide, it is currently difficult to access and examine the containers. We are coordinating with the Coast Guard to ensure a safe and controlled recovery operation,” Kadam said.
Local authorities suspect that the containers may have washed up from a shipwreck or vessel that may have encountered distress in deep seawaters, PTI reported.
However, there was no official confirmation regarding their origin or contents.
Addressing reporters, Kadam further stated that bomb disposal and hazardous materials teams would be kept on standby until the containers are inspected and cleared by experts.
Earlier this year, a container had washed up on Vasai beach, raising concerns about maritime safety and coastal security.
“We are not ruling out any possibilities at this stage,” Kadam said, adding that the investigations will look into whether these containers were part of cargo lost from ships during rough seas or due to illegal dumping.
Meanwhile, a joint investigation was launched by the Palghar Police and the Coast Guard authorities. Maritime authorities were also being roped in to trace the possible origin of the containers through shipping logs and coastal surveillance data.
The district disaster management team had placed coastal villages on alert, and beach patrolling was intensified in the area as a precautionary measure.
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About the Author
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
September 08, 2025, 10:20 IST
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