india's western coast is now on the verge of one of the biggest environmental threats as a marooned 75,000 tonne merchant vessel, M V Ocean Serraya, could spill nearly 650 tonnes of furnace oil into the sea.

On the night of May 29-30, the cargo vessel had been wrecked on some rocks in the Arabian Sea off Karnataka's Karwar coast due to rough weather. Now, split into two, the ship is stranded in the sea with oil leaking from it. At least 20 tonnes of oil has already spilled into the sea. The oil content in the seawater is now four times above the danger level and in the sand it is also above the danger level.

While waiting to defuel the vessel, the Goa state administration has warned local residents and fisherfolk not to venture into the sea.