KARACHI, June 9: Some 2,100 people visiting the beaches near Karachi on Sunday and Monday have been bitten by the bluebottle fish, popularly known as jelly fish, according to the Edhi Foundation Information Centre. The victims have called for first-aid centres along the beach.

According to a spokesman for the Foundation, some 1,800 people were given first aid by its volunteers. He said the fish bite causes a lot of pain for more than half an hour. However, the pain subsides gradually, apparently without leaving a lasting ill-effects.

People who throng the beaches in summer, have to contend with the problem almost every year. However, not a single first-aid centre has been set up by the city government or the Edhi Foundation. According to a Hakeem, the immediate treatment is rubbing vinegar on the wound and taking a few sips of the liquid.