Mumbai: The staff of BMC C-ward on Thursday spotted stingrays swarming the Girgaum Chowpatty seashore. It has accordingly issued an advisory for citizens visiting the seashore, asking them not to venture inside the sea with bare feet and bare-bodied while immersing Ganesha idols.
It has also asked them to wear gumboots to avoid stingray attacks. Vishwas Mote, BMC Assistant Commissioner, said that stingrays are not life-threatening, but if someone steps on their venomous tail, it can cause unbearable pain. Also, jellyfish may stick to the body of a person when he or she comes in contact with it, causing rashes and an intense burning sensation. An official said that in view of these developments, BMC has installed medical stalls at various beaches across Mumbai to assist people during emergencies.
Usually in September, fish get washed ashore in large numbers. Similarly, stingrays and jellyfish that are washed ashore during high tide, get submerged in sand. On Ganeshotsav immersion days, lakhs of devotees throng the beaches, so in view of the threat posed by such species to citizens, such advisories are issued by BMC as a preventive measure. In 2013, at least 50-60 people were injured after stingray and jellyfish attacks at Girgaum Chowpatty.