Astaranga: Hundreds of dead blue jellyfish have washed ashore near Keluni river mouth at Astaranga beach in Puri district, raising concerns among tourists and locals as contact with the carcasses is causing skin irritation and swelling.
Reports said the dead jellyfish appearing in the coast have raised apprehensions that it may deter the tourists from visiting the Astaranga beach.
Tourists who accidentally touched the dead creatures reported immediate itching and rash-like swelling on their skin.
Local social activists attributed the mass stranding to a recent low-pressure system in Bay of Bengal, which escalated into a cyclone.
Environmentalists, including youth activist Bichitrananda Biswal, noted similar occurrences during past cyclones.
Stating that the larger number this time has heightened alarm, Biswal called for research institutions to conduct lab tests to determine the exact cause of the deaths.
PNN
