Carcass of whale washes ashore in western India

MUMBAI: Marine biologists in India are conducting an autopsy on the carcass of a 35-foot (10-metre) whale that washed ashore on a popular beach in the western city of Mumbai.

Hundreds of people gathered on Juhu beach on Friday as officials placed a harness around the Bryde whale and lifted it onto an open truck.

The mammal was spotted on the beach Thursday by evening walkers, who informed police.

The biologists said the whale appeared to have died at sea some days earlier and washed ashore.

Two weeks ago, more than 80 short-finned pilot whales were stranded off India's southwestern coast. Officials rescued and took 36 of the mammals back to sea.