Throngs of fans swarmed Marine Drive to welcome the triumphant Indian cricket team after the T20 World Cup, celebrating with open hearts but leaving a darker mark in the form of litter along the seaside. The crowd left behind piles of water bottles and footwear, which local authorities collected using seven vehicles.
Cleaning operation lasted all night
The BMC stated that the cleaning operation persisted throughout Thursday night following the victory parade. Thousands of fans had gathered at Marine Drive in South Mumbai to witness the open bus parade, which started after 7:30 PM from the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) and traveled to Wankhede Stadium.
Source: aajtak
Streets littered with bottles and slippers
The parade, which would typically take five minutes to cover the distance between the points, took over an hour and a half due to the massive crowd. This huge assembly left behind piles of garbage, with shoes and water bottles strewn over the road where the parade passed.
Trash will be sent to recycling plants
The BMC noted that the collected waste, including copious amounts of food packaging and bottles, along with shoes and slippers, will not be sent to landfills but directed to recycling plants instead.
NGOs assist in cleaning effort
The cleaning operation, which began at 11:30 PM on Thursday and concluded at 8 AM on Friday, was crucial to promptly restore Marine Drive, a locale frequented by many for morning walks and exercises. A hundred employees from the Municipal Solid Waste Management department alongside volunteers from non-profit organizations participated in this effort.
11 individuals injured during parade
Police deployment was heavy and thorough security measures were in place between Marine Drive and Wankhede Stadium to prevent any mishaps during the parade. Due to the dense crowds, at least 11 people received minor injuries or experienced dizziness and were taken to hospitals.
