The rescue operation for the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel that caught fire off the Kerala coast has hit a major roadblock - torrential rains. As flames continue to rise from the ship, the sudden downpour is not helping, but rather slowing down critical rescue and containment efforts. Authorities now fear the vessel may sink, taking its dangerous cargo - including possibly hazardous chemicals - down with it, raising the spectre of a marine environmental crisis.

Indian Coast Guard teams are on high alert, working against time and worsening weather. The blaze, which broke out on board earlier this week, has proven difficult to control, and the rain has made aerial and deck-based interventions risky and less effective.

Environmental experts are already warning of potential long-term damage to marine ecosystems if the cargo is released into the Arabian Sea.

With visibility poor and conditions rough, the operation hangs in a delicate balance, turning a routine cargo transit into a high-stakes maritime emergency.