Karaikal: A dredger anchored at the Karaikal port ran aground after being dragged for about 60 km by the strong winds of Cyclone Gaja as it crossed the coast between Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam near here in the early hours of Friday. There were no casualties among the three crew members who were on the vessel while the rest of its 28-member crew were in the port, officials said.
They said the dredger 'Veera Prem' belonging to Mumbai-based Mercator Ltd was anchored in Karaikal Port premises since January. It ran aground near TR Pattinam taluk early morning. It was being used for dredging in the port and was going through some repair work as one of the engines had malfunctioned, they said, adding that once the weather improves, the dredger would be pulled back into the sea using tug boats.
A senior district police official said public has been barred from thronging the area to see the dredger. In October 2012, an oil tanker Pratibha Cauvery with 37 member crew ran aground off Chennai coast about 200 metres from the shore due to strong winds during cyclone 'Nilam'.
