In Pics: Tuticorin coast full of whale carcasses washed ashore

Tuticorin, Jan 12: Carcasses of 30 baleen whales were found washed ashore near the Tiruchendur beach in this district early today while 250 of the same species have been stranded in shallow waters, officials said.

Efforts are on to push the stranded sea mammals into deep waters even as a team of top officials of the fisheries department have rushed to the spot to conduct a probe.

"This is an unusual thing...an unusual mortality incident, we have to find out the reason," Marine Scientist Velumani at the fisheries department, told sources.

Local fishermen were seen helping the aquatic mammals by pulling them back into sea but to no avail.

Here are the images of the baleen whales lying helpless on the shore:

Whales found washed ashore in Tuticorin

Carcasses of 30 baleen whales were found washed ashore near the Tiruchendur beach.

Whales found washed ashore in Tuticorin

Some 250 whales have been stranded in shallow water near the coast.

Whales found washed ashore in Tuticorin

Local fishermen were seen helping the aquatic mammals by pulling them back into sea but to no avail.

Fishermen trying to save whales

Local fishermen were seen helping the aquatic mammals by pulling them back into sea but to no avail.

Whales found washed ashore in Tuticorin

Marine Scientist said,"This is an unusual thing...an unusual mortality incident, we have to find out the reason."

Whales found washed ashore in Tuticorin

"There could be many reasons...navy sonars could have caused it...or pollution...the reason is not immediately known and we don't want to speculate," Assistant Director of Tuticorin fisheries department, Amal Xavier, said.

OneIndia News