Venomous Blue bottle jellyfish spotted at Mumbai’s Girgaon Chowpatty beach

The venomous but deceptively beautiful blue bottle jellyfish, also known as the Portuguese man-of-war, has been sighted over the Girgaon Chowpatty beach in Mumbai. (Express photo by Amit Kumar Das)

Every year the brightly coloured marine hydrozoans are washed onto the beaches, at the mercy of the monsoon winds. (Express photo by Amit Kumar Das)

Touching them can cause a burning sensation and rashes for 1-2 hours. Allergic people can develop serious conditions. (Express photo by Amit Kumar Das)

The venomous marine creature has long tentacles, and if it comes in contact with humans can deliver a sting that can be excruciatingly painful. (Express Photo by Amit Kumar Das)

Experts suggest that the best way to deal with it is to pour seawater on the stung area, avoid rubbing it or even washing the wound with warm water. The victims are then advised to visit a hospital. (Express photo by Amit Kumar Das)

According to some experts, the rising temperature of the seawater can cause the fish to come to the shore. (Express photo by Amit Kumar Das)

In 2018, a huge number of blue bottle jellyfish got washed ashore on several Mumbai beaches and over 150 people, including children, were stung at popular beaches like Girgaum Chowpatty, Juhu and Aksa. (Express photo by Amit Kumar Das)