Puri: Two days after a large shipping container was found on Puri beach in Odisha, several local residents were seen taking away articles from the huge box that had got washed ashore.
Sources said the articles included food items, perfumes, candles, engine oil. Several locals, particularly youngsters, were seen thronging the site and running away with different items.
Though the container was spotted on Penthakata beach on Thursday, no concrete step appeared to have been taken so far. The Coast Guard and Customs Department were reportedly informed about the incident.
Locals said a crack appeared on one side of the container in the morning and some of its contents spilled into the sea. After noticing this, people reportedly started looting the container.
According to Puri Collector Siddharth Shankar Swain, the Coast Guard and Customs Department have already been informed about the container appearing on the beach.
Stating that the container carried consumable articles and there is no report about presence of any hazardous material, he said the Coast Guard will follow due procedure to handle and open the container.
Terming incidents of loot by locals as unacceptable, he said it will be thoroughly verified and appropriate steps be taken.
Notably, two containers of a sunken ship were washed ashore off Satabhaya beach in Odisha four days ago.
