Udupi: Come Monday, no tourists will be allowed to enjoy the exciting huge waves of Malpe beach as the Malpe Lifeguard team and Local police have declared an alert exempting the people from entering the beach.
The reason for this, as has been reported, is that from over a month, tourists are being attacked by thousands of stingrays (Ray fish) in Malpe beach here.
Prathibha, Official Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Mangaluru said, “The fish attacks only when someone steps on them or hurts them. It is not deadly. Those who are stung and get serious pains can be cured with anti-biotics however, when it bites lungs it is dangerous”.
“During Ganeshothsava in Mumbai, it had bitten many people. It swims to the shore every year to lay egg and find food. It is commonly found in the coastal belt. Previous year also the same issue happened, she added.
Life Guard Mohan V Kanchan, said, “Those stung are given first-aid by us on the beach and then taken to the hospital for further treatment”.
It was usual for the ray fish to come close to the beach because of a dip in the temperature of the sea during this period. “We placed caution boards and announced that no one can enter the sea”, he added.
Narayana Mandal, who is working in Krishna Mutt said, “I got injured after being stung by sting rays on Sunday, it was severely paining with muscle cramps and I had to undergo treatment at a nursing home in Malpe”.
Dr Surendra Shetty, medical officer, Malpe Nursing Home said “The pain will last for a day. As a precaution they must keep their feet in hot water. This destabilizes the venom within half an hour”.
The stingrays are found in deep sea and are common at the sea shore in this season; however, this time the number is comparatively more, according to reports.
