Barge runs aground off east coast in TN

Chennai, Nov 24 (UNI) A 100-ft-long barge ran aground off east coast at Karikattukuppam near Muttukad in the early hours of today, drawing huge onlookers.

Local fishermen, who found the barge in the sea, just about ten ft away from the shore, alerted the Neelankari Police, who in turn alerted the Coast Guard.

It was not immediately known as how the vessel got drifted to the coast and capsized.

Authorities at the Chennai Port said no barge was missing from the port.

The barge was seen by the fishermen of the nearby Nainarkuppam at about five km off the coast last evening.

Earlier, a private tug towing a barge from Puducherry to Visakhapatnam ran aground at Azhagarkuppam near Marakkanam on November 21.

UNI