81 whales wash ashore Tamil Nadu beach, 45 dead

Out of 81 whales that had washed up on a beach in Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu, 45 whales have died, while as many as 36 whales have been rescued by the fishermen.

According to officials, the fishermen dragged many of the beached whales back into the sea but they keep returning to the shores near Manapadu and Kallamozhi villages.
In August last year, the carcass of a 33-feet-long whale washed up on a beach near a village in Nagapattinam district. Even in April, carcass of a whale washed ashore at Veppalodai coast which was identified as a 'Sperm Whale' by a team of scientists from the Fisheries College and Research Institute 

UPDATE: Out of 81 whales that had washed up on a beach in Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu) 45 dead, 36 rescued by fishermen. pic.twitter.com/44Diu31nYN

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"These are small fin whales. They appear disoriented. It is the first time so many have been beached," senior district official Ravi Kumar said after he visited Manapadu.

The official told NDTV that they have asked officials from Gulf of Mannar marine park and forest department to investigate the incident.

With ANI inputs