Battle goes on to contain Indian oil spill

Damaged cargo ship MSC Chitra lies in the Arabian Sea off the Mumbai coast yesterday. The Indian coastguard was trying to contain oil from the badly-listing container ship that collided with another vessel off the Indian coast near the city of Mumbai. Environmental emergency teams have been put on alert to mobilise for a clean-up operation, while fishermen have been told not to put to sea until the all-clear has been given.Photo: AFP

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has ordered an investigation into an oil spill caused by a collision between two cargo ships off Mumbai on Saturday.
The Indian navy and coast guard are still trying to contain the leak from the stricken MSC Chitra.
It is tilting at least 75 degrees since the crash with a Panamanian cargo ship, the MV Khalijia-III.
The Chitra was carrying about 1,200 containers, which had nearly 270 tonnes of fuel, say officials.
Up to 400 of the containers have fallen into the sea.
On Monday, the prime minister ordered the shipping ministry to find out what caused the incident off the western Indian coast.
"We are trying to contain the leak as far as possible," Maharashtra state Chief Minister Ashok Chavan told the news agency Press Trust of India.
The coast guard is using several ships and two helicopters spraying oil dispersant in an effort to limit the spill.
Thirty-three crewmembers were rescued following Saturday's collision in the Arabian Sea.