Guards, boards to alert public

The 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival begins on August 29.

With a possible threat of stingrays and jelly fish attacking devotees during the Ganesh idol immersion in places like Girgaum Chowpatty, Juhu and Shivaji Park, the Brihamumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the state fisheries department has decided to appoint guards at the spots, and also raise public awareness by putting up boards as a precaution during the 10-day festival of Ganesh Chaturthi.

Citing last year’s incident where close to 70 devotees needed medical aid after being stung by jelly fish and stingrays, the civic body wrote to the fisheries department recently to take necessary action this year.

The 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival begins on August 29.

“We had written to the department three days ago as this is probably the breeding season for jelly fish and stingrays. They lay eggs near the sea shore. The fisheries department has decided to place guards at these spots during the immersion days,” said additional municipal commissioner Sanjay Deshmukh, who is in charge of the health department.

Stingrays and jelly fish are known to have poisonous barbs and tentacles. Their attacks have caused fatalities globally.

“We have started surveying the waters as a precaution and it is expected to be completeby September 25. We will put up warnings to alert people,” said Vinod Naik, joint commissioner of the fisheries department.

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com

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