look news india
Mumbai: In a massive bird strike incident in Mumbai on Monday night, a large flock of flamingos collided with Emirates Airlines flight EK 508 coming from Dubai. About 40 flamingos died in this incident. BMC, forest department, environmentalists and other agencies swung into action after decomposed bodies of birds were found on the roads in Mumbai's Ghatkopar area. There is also talk of some damage to the plane in this incident. However, despite hitting the bird, the flight landed safely at Mumbai airport. Of course, the plane was grounded for further investigation and the return flight to Dubai was cancelled. Due to this, tourists going to Dubai got stuck and had to spend the night in Mumbai. The Forest Department has ordered an investigation into the entire incident.
Bodies of flamingos were seen on the streets of Mumbai on Monday amid Lok Sabha election voting. Blood soaked bodies were found in Lakshmi Nagar area of Ghatkopar Pantan Nagar. Vikhroli and Bhandup near Ghatkopar on one side and Navi Mumbai and the wetlands of Thane Bay on the other side are destinations for flamingo birds. Here flamingo birds often become victims of accidents. But, people were stunned to see such a large number of dead bodies and that too in mutilated condition. Many people called various agencies including volunteers working for animal protection, BMC and fire brigade and informed that a large number of dead flamingos were found in Ghatkopar area. After this, crowds gathered in all these agencies.
At night, volunteers of the voluntary organization and the Mangrove Cell of the Forest Department conducted a search operation, in which 29 flamingos were found dead. He said that till Tuesday morning three more bodies were found. The flamingo was sent for autopsy.
It was later found that the bird hit an Emirates flight coming from Dubai. According to the opinion expressed by volunteers of organizations working for wildlife and birds, it is possible that these birds may have lost their way due to light pollution or construction activity and due to this collided with the plane coming to land at the airport. Since the Ghatkopar area is close to the airport, flights fly at a relatively low level during landing and takeoff.
Deepak Khade, deputy conservator of forests, mangrove conservation cell, said airport officials have confirmed that the incident was caused by bird strike. This incident took place in Pant Nagar Laxmi Nagar, north of Ghatkopar East.
SY Rama Rao, Additional Chief Conservator of Forests, Mangrove Conservation Cell, said that we have found the bodies of 36 flamingos. But we have continued the search due to fear of finding more bodies. He confirmed that the flamingo died due to collision with the flight.
According to Prashant Bahadare, Range Forest Officer of this cell, they reached the airport for investigation but they were not allowed to enter there. The airport authority did not accept that the flamingos had collided with the Emirates flight. It is estimated that the incident occurred between 8.40 to 8.50 pm, because after that time we started receiving calls from passersby and other people.
Forest Range Officer of 'Thane Bay' Flamingo Sanctuary and his team reached Lakshminagar-Pantnagar area of Ghatkopar. High level officials of the Forest Department also reached the spot. 29 dead flamingos were taken into custody by the forest department. This morning the forest department staff again went to the place where 10 more flamingos were found dead. The forest department said the post-mortem of the bodies is being conducted at the Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Center in Airoli.
Additional Chief Conservator of Forest Department said that our team is on the spot and investigation has been started to find out the reason for the death of the flamingo. The statement of the pilot who informed about the bird collision will also be recorded.