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

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8 years ago

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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.

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Women wrestlers challenge Brij Bhushan’s acquittal in sexual harassment case

Four women wrestlers have challenged the acquittal of former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and co-accused Vinod Tomar in a sexual harassment case.

Published

21 mins ago

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September 25, 2026

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Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Four women wrestlers have approached a Delhi court challenging the acquittal of former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a sexual harassment case.

The wrestlers have also challenged the acquittal of co-accused Vinod Tomar. The matter is scheduled to be heard by a Special Judge at the Rouse Avenue Courts.

The appeal challenges the order passed by an Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate on August 3, 2026, when Brij Bhushan and Tomar were acquitted in the case.

Wrestlers challenge court’s reasoning

In their appeal, the wrestlers have argued that the acquittal order is legally unsustainable and that the evidence was not assessed appropriately.

They have also alleged that the order relied on assumptions about how victims of sexual assault and harassment were expected to behave instead of assessing the evidence and circumstances of the complainants.

The challenge seeks judicial scrutiny of the findings that resulted in the acquittal of Brij Bhushan and Tomar.

Brij Bhushan was acquitted in August

The Rouse Avenue court acquitted Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on August 3 in the sexual harassment case involving women wrestlers. The court’s decision followed consideration of the evidence and statements presented during the proceedings.

The case had emerged after several women wrestlers accused the former WFI chief of sexual harassment. The allegations had led to a major protest by wrestlers in 2023.

The latest appeal means the acquittal is now being challenged before a higher court.

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Congress protests against Gyanesh Kumar, demands Election chief’s resignation

Congress workers took to the streets against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with protests and demonstrations held over the party’s allegations concerning the Election Commission.

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1 hour ago

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September 25, 2026

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Congress stepped up its campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with party workers taking to the streets and demanding his resignation amid the ongoing row over the Election Commission.

The protests followed repeated criticism by Congress leaders of the poll panel and its functioning. The party has alleged irregularities in the electoral process and has sought accountability from the Election Commission.

Congress leaders have also targeted Gyanesh Kumar personally, with Rahul Gandhi among those calling for the Chief Election Commissioner to step down.

Congress takes protest to streets

Congress workers staged demonstrations in different places as part of the party’s campaign against the Election Commission.

The protests featured sharp symbolism, including masks and handcuffs, as Congress sought to highlight its allegations against the poll panel and demand action against Gyanesh Kumar.

The demonstrations are part of a wider confrontation between the Congress and the Election Commission over issues related to electoral rolls and the conduct of elections.

Congress demands Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation

The Congress has repeatedly demanded the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the Election Commission of failing to adequately address the concerns raised by the opposition party.

Rahul Gandhi has also stepped up his criticism of the poll panel. In a statement on Thursday, he demanded that Gyanesh Kumar resign and alleged that the Election Commission had acknowledged the issue of “vote theft”. These are allegations made by the Congress and should not be treated as an established finding unless confirmed by the relevant authority.

The dispute comes amid a broader political debate over electoral rolls, voter verification and the functioning of the Election Commission.

Election Commission under opposition scrutiny

The Congress has intensified its campaign against the poll body in recent weeks, with party leaders repeatedly questioning its decisions and procedures.

The Election Commission, meanwhile, has maintained that India’s electoral process is conducted according to the Constitution, electoral laws and prescribed procedures. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has previously defended the integrity of the electoral system and rejected claims that electronic voting machines can be remotely hacked.

The latest protests add to the continuing political confrontation over the Election Commission and the opposition’s demands concerning the poll panel’s functioning.

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Assam makes Muslim marriage registration compulsory under new rules

Assam has approved rules for compulsory registration of Muslim marriages, with couples able to register through government marriage registrars.

Published

10 hours ago

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September 25, 2026

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The Assam Cabinet has approved the Assam Muslim Marriage Registration (Compulsory) Rules, 2026, establishing the procedure for mandatory registration of Muslim marriages in the state.

The rules operationalise the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Act, 2024, which replaced the earlier Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1935.

Who will register Muslim marriages in Assam?

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Muslim couples will now be able to register their marriages with government marriage registrars.

The government had earlier decided that kazis would not register Muslim marriages under the new system, but there was uncertainty over who would carry out the registration. The newly approved rules establish the registration mechanism through marriage registrars.

Sarma said that if the number of applications becomes large, the government could give marriage-registration powers to officers at the panchayat level so that applicants do not face difficulties.

What does the 2024 law say?

The 2024 Act made the registration of Muslim marriages and divorces with the government mandatory. It also prohibits registration of marriages that do not meet the legally prescribed minimum age requirements.

The law specifies the minimum marriage age as 18 years for females and 21 years for males.

The legislation was introduced by the Assam government with the stated objective of curbing child marriage and ending the earlier kazi-based registration system.

Under the previous 1935 law, marriage registration was conducted through kazis and was not compulsory. The earlier system also allowed registration involving minors in certain circumstances, while the new law does not permit such registration.

Registration timeline and penalties

The 2024 legislation provides that Muslim marriages should be registered within 30 days of the marriage. It also provides for registration of divorces within one month of their occurrence.

The law also contains penalties for violations. Producing fake or forged certificates can attract imprisonment of up to two years, a fine of up to Rs. 10,000, or both, along with action under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Registering a marriage in violation of the law can attract imprisonment of up to one year and a fine of up to Rs. 50,000.

The Assam Cabinet’s approval of the 2026 rules provides the administrative framework for implementing the compulsory registration system.

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