Four flamingos met a tragic end on 1^st February, 2024 after colliding with the broad signal panel of the non-functional Nerul Jetty. The horrifying scene unfolded during the early hours as joggers and walkers near Nerul Jetty witnessed the unfortunate event, sparking concerns about the unaddressed issues surrounding the non-functional signal panel.

Eyewitness Manish Pitkar shared his account of the incident, stating that a loud thud caught their attention while practicing near the Nerul Jetty around 6:30 am. Six flamingos descended from above, with two being rescued by the onlookers, while the other four succumbed to their injuries caused by the high signal panel.

Pritika Bharadwaj, a member of the runners group, highlighted the immediate efforts made to contact the fire brigade and forest department, revealing the unavailability of toll-free numbers. Eventually, a local rescue team arrived at 7:45 am, but the four deceased flamingos could not be revived. The birds were then placed in a nearby location for protection before being disposed of in a stream near the jetty.

Expressing concern, Pritika mentioned that flamingos frequently use this route for their morning flight, and activists like Sunil Agarwal from Save Navi Mumbai environment group condemned CIDCO's negligence regarding the non-functional Nerul Jetty.

Agarwal emphasized the danger posed by the high signal panel in the flight path of the flamingos, citing this as the second such incident without any corrective action. He questioned the purpose of installing such a large panel near a non-functional jetty and called for urgent intervention by the forest department and civic authorities to clear the flight path.

Agarwal, the founder of Save Navi Mumbai Group, also raised concerns about the yet-to-be-inaugurated Nerul Jetty, questioning the exorbitant cost and demanding a solution to either dismantle or reduce the height of the signal panel. He urged authorities to prioritize the safety of wildlife and address the environmental hazards posed by the non-functional Nerul Jetty.

CIDCO can erect an arch on the Palm Beach Road and put up a small sign at the end of the DPS road, said NatConnect Foundation director B N Kumar.

There are flood lights in the vicinity that cause light pollution, hurting the birds.

Kumar, who was the first to demand Flamingo City status to Navi Mumbai, recalled that the environment lovers also called for NMMC taking over the DPS Lake and maintaining it as a tourist spot. In fact, the then NMMC Commissioner Abhijit Bangar had even written to CIDCO expressing keen interest to maintain the lake in association with the BNHS. But CIDCO rejected the idea.

“Today’s tragedy brings the importance of protecting the migratory birds and their habitats into sharp focus,” Kumar said and appealed to the Chief Minister to intervene and save the biodiversity.