THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The glass furnace pipeline of Titanium Factory in Veli broke and following that the furnace oil leaked into the sea. The incident happened at around 1 am Wednesday morning. The study conducted by the Pollution Control Board found that the oil spilled two kilometres into the sea. The coast guard is monitoring the incident.

The fishermen who ventured into the sea said the black furnace oil had spread two kilometres into the sea. The fishermen expressed their anxiety to MLA V S Sivakumar, other representatives and Titanium authorities who reached the spot.

The fishermen said the fishes were found dead and seen floating and cannot go fishing and should be compensated. Collector Navjot Khosa said Shanghumugham and Veli shores and sea have been closed to the public. However, Titanium officials said the leak in the pipeline was found immediately and closed and there is no oil leak presently. Efforts are being made to remove the furnace oil from the sea as soon as possible.