English हिन्दी
Connect with us

India News

Attack of Blue bottles – the Portugese Man O’ War – on Mumbai beaches leaves over 150 injured

Published

8 years ago

on

Attack of Blue bottles – the Portugese Man O’ War – on Mumbai beaches leaves over 150 injured

There is panic and fear on beaches of Mumbai as over 150 persons visiting the sea side were injured in attacks by blue bottles, also known as Portugese Man O’ War, that have landed in large numbers.

The Portuguese man-of-war has long tentacles, which enter the body and deliver an excruciatingly painful sting. The venomous sting can kill fish, but not humans, said a News18 report.

Anyone who comes in contact with tentacles can receive a sting causing burning pain leading to muscle weakness. These tentacles can even sting if the organisms are dead.

Blue bottles look like plastic or a bubble when washed ashore. They also float in water and have tentacles that cause the sting, a report in the DNA said.

Not ‘Jellyfish’

The Portuguese Man-of-War belongs to the Physaliidae family and is commonly found in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.

The name “man-of-war” originated from an 18th-century armed sailing ship. They live at the surface of the ocean, therefore, during strong winds, they are driven onto beaches.

Despite their appearance, they are not like jelly fish, the DNA reported. They are not one individual but a colony of four kinds of highly modified zooids that are dependent on one another for survival.

Based on their appearance, however, people refer to them as ‘blue bottle jellyfish’.

The ‘attack’

Since August 2, around 150 people have been reportedly been stung by the blue bottles on beaches like Girgaum chowpatty, Juhu and Aksa as per the lifeguards, said a DNA report. While many reported mild irritation many including children had developed rashes and were experiencing burning sensation.

Locals said that the blue bottles are generally seen in Mumbai, during the mid-monsoon season every year, but this time they were spotted in unusually large numbers.

A shopkeeper at Juhu Beach said that around 150 people have been attacked by the blue bottles in past two days. “The beach is full of jellyfish. Many people have been injured, from the past two days. I am helping them by rubbing lemon when they are stung. I suggest, people should avoid visiting beach for now,” NDTV quoted him as saying.

Do’s and Don’ts

Volunteers of Marine Life Of Mumbai (MLOM) a group of marine enthusiasts, are visiting beaches and creating awareness amongst the lifeguards about basic dos and don’ts to help the victims who have been stung, DNA reported.

Shaunak Modi, marine enthusiast who is part of the MLOM and met the lifeguards at Juhu was quoted as saying, “Most of us were shocked on seeing videos and images of people rubbing lemon, ice and trying other methods to help many victims including children who were stung at Aksa beach on Saturday and hence we decided to meet up with lifeguards who in many cases are the first responders and tell them basic do’s and don’t’s.”

They told the lifeguards patrolling the beach to keep it simple and at most pour sea water on the affected portion of the skin, which will help remove the tentacles that are stuck on the skin and ask the victim to head to the nearest government hospital.

“Rubbing anything on the skin can cause the tentacles to go deeper into the skin and aggravate the problem. Since the effect of venom is different on people depending on age, body weight and other factor hence the best way to deal is to send those affected by the sting to the nearest hospital,” he said.

Global Warming the reason?

Scientists indicate that rising temperatures of oceans could be one of the key factors behind the population boom, said a report.

Marine ecologist and Director of BNHS Dr Deepak Apte was quoted by DNA as saying that earlier Blue bottles that live in deeper oceans would be found washed ashore in the beginning of monsoons due to strong winds and currents and were seen for a fewer days. However, there is an obvious change in not only their arrival but also their numbers and while there have been no study, yet the trend is a clear indicator.

“Global warming is resulting in warmer oceans including that of Arabian sea, which makes the situation conducive for their breeding thus increasing their numbers and it would not be a surprise to find a rise in the number of blue bottles being washed ashore in years to come,” he said.

Former principal scientist at Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Dr Vinay Deshmukh informed that in the last three decades the temperature of Arabian sea has increased by 0.8 degree Celsius and while it might mean nothing for us but even this slight change has far reaching impact on the marine organisms and if there is a population boom of blue bottles its obvious that they will be washed more in numbers along the coast.

Deshmukh said that there has been rise in numbers of blue bottles showing up on beaches across several countries including Australia and a proper answer would require a longer study and data collection.

Another senior marine scientist said that it was something to be worried about as increase of any species indicates something is wrong in the ecosystem.

“Their rising numbers indicates that chances are that their predators have reduced and if one observes closely over fishing, pollution in the ocean is affecting many species including turtles, who prey upon these and keep their population in control,” he said.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

India News

Amit Shah counters delimitation concerns, says southern states to gain Lok Sabha seats

Amit Shah assures Parliament that southern states will gain Lok Sabha seats after delimitation, countering opposition criticism during the women’s reservation debate.

Published

4 hours ago

on

April 16, 2026

By

Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday addressed concerns over the proposed delimitation exercise, asserting in the Lok Sabha that southern states will not lose representation but instead see an increase in their number of seats.

His remarks came during a heated debate linked to the implementation of women’s reservation, where opposition parties have raised fears that population-based delimitation could reduce the political weight of southern states.

Shah rejected these claims, calling them misleading, and said the proposed framework ensures fairness while expanding the overall strength of the Lok Sabha.

Seat count to rise with expansion of Lok Sabha

The government has indicated that the total number of Lok Sabha seats could increase significantly as part of the delimitation process. In this expanded House, the combined representation of southern states is expected to rise from 129 seats at present to around 195 seats.

Shah emphasised that no state will lose seats in absolute terms, and the exercise is designed to reflect population changes while maintaining balance across regions.

State-wise projections shared in Parliament

During his address, Shah also provided indicative figures for individual southern states, suggesting notable increases in representation. According to the projections:

  • Tamil Nadu could see its seats rise substantially
  • Kerala, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh are also expected to gain additional seats
  • Karnataka’s representation may increase as well

These figures were presented to counter the argument that delimitation would disproportionately favour northern states.

Political debate intensifies over linkage with women’s quota

The delimitation exercise has been closely linked to the rollout of women’s reservation, which proposes one-third seats for women in Parliament and state assemblies.

Opposition leaders have questioned this linkage, arguing that tying reservation to delimitation could delay its implementation and raise federal concerns. Some leaders have also warned that the move could impact national unity if apprehensions among states are not addressed.

The government, however, maintains that the reforms are necessary to ensure equitable representation and to align the electoral system with demographic realities.

Centre dismisses ‘false narrative’ on southern states

Shah reiterated that concerns about southern states losing influence are unfounded. He said the delimitation process will increase representation across regions and described the criticism as a “false narrative” aimed at creating confusion.

The issue is expected to remain a key flashpoint as Parliament continues discussions on the women’s reservation framework and related legislative changes.

Continue Reading

India News

PM Modi assures no discrimination in women’s quota, delimitation debate intensifies in Parliament

PM Narendra Modi has assured that women’s reservation will be implemented without discrimination, amid a heated debate over delimitation in Parliament.

Published

11 hours ago

on

April 16, 2026

By

PM modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured that there will be no discrimination in the implementation of women’s reservation, as Parliament witnessed a sharp debate over the proposed linkage between the quota and delimitation exercise.

During the ongoing special session, the government reiterated its commitment to ensuring fair representation while addressing concerns raised by opposition parties regarding the timing and structure of the legislation.

The proposed framework aims to reserve 33 percent of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. However, its implementation is tied to a fresh delimitation exercise, which is expected after the next census.

Opposition questions timing and intent

Opposition leaders have raised concerns that linking the women’s quota to delimitation could delay its implementation. They argue that the process of redrawing constituencies may push the actual rollout further into the future.

The issue has triggered a broader political confrontation, with multiple parties questioning whether the move could alter representation across states.

Some critics have also alleged that the delimitation exercise could disproportionately benefit certain regions based on population, a charge the government has rejected.

Government reiterates commitment to fair implementation

Responding to these concerns, the Centre has maintained that the reforms are necessary to ensure accurate and updated representation based on population data.

Leaders from the ruling side have repeatedly emphasized that the process will be carried out transparently and without bias. The assurance that there will be “no discrimination” is aimed at addressing fears among states and opposition parties.

The debate marks a key moment in Parliament, with both sides engaging in intense exchanges over one of the most significant electoral reforms in recent years.

Continue Reading

India News

Give all tickets to Muslim women, Amit Shah says, attacking Akhilesh Yadav on sub-quota demand

A sharp exchange between Amit Shah and Akhilesh Yadav in Parliament over sub-quota for Muslim women highlights key divisions on women’s reservation implementation.

Published

13 hours ago

on

April 16, 2026

By

A heated exchange broke out in Parliament during discussions on the women’s reservation framework, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav locking horns over the demand for a sub-quota for Muslim women.

The debate unfolded as the government pushed forward key legislative measures to implement 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

Akhilesh Yadav argued that the proposed reservation must ensure representation for women from marginalised communities, including Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Muslim women. He said that without such provisions, large sections could remain excluded from political participation.

He also questioned the timing of the bill, alleging that the Centre was avoiding a caste census. According to him, a census would lead to renewed demands for caste-based reservations, which the government is reluctant to address.

Government rejects religion-based quota

Responding to the demand, Amit Shah made it clear that reservation based on religion is not permitted under the Constitution.

He stated that any proposal to provide quota to Muslims on religious grounds would be unconstitutional, firmly rejecting the idea of a separate sub-quota for Muslim women within the broader reservation framework.

The government has maintained that the existing framework already includes provisions for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) women within the overall reservation structure.

Wider political divide over implementation

The issue of sub-categorisation within the women’s quota has emerged as a major flashpoint, even as most opposition parties broadly support the idea of women’s reservation.

Samajwadi Party leaders reiterated that their support for the bill depends on inclusion of OBC and minority women, while the government continues to defend its constitutional position.

The debate is part of a broader discussion during the special Parliament session, where multiple bills linked to delimitation and implementation of the women’s quota are being taken up.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com