For the past two days, tar balls have been washing ashore on the beaches of several villages near Pulicat lake in Tiruvallur district.
Fishermen say since the place is only a few kilometres north of Ennore Creek that has been affected by the oil spill during the recent Cyclone Michaung, the oil was washing up from the sea.
“The leak was noticed only after a day, which means the river would have carried a large quantity of oil into the sea and that was washing back to the shore. Women who went to collect seashells at Koraikuppam had to return empty handed since the tar balls were getting stuck to their palms and feet,” said Vinod of Koraikuppam.
