Bhopal– A religious gathering in Surru village of Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district turned tragic on Monday when a swarm of bees attacked a family, killing an elderly man and injuring several others.
The incident occurred near the banks of the Naren River, at the sacred site of Havaldar Baba in the Malthon police station area. The family of Bharat Singh Lodhi had assembled at the location, as they do annually, to perform traditional religious rituals.
After completing the ceremony, the group began preparing food under a tree, using cow dung cakes as fuel. The smoke from the burning cakes disturbed a beehive in the tree above, triggering a sudden and aggressive attack.
A 60-year-old man, whose identity is yet to be officially confirmed by police, was stung multiple times and rushed to the nearby Khimlasa hospital. Doctors there advised his family to transfer him to a government hospital in Bina, where he died during treatment.
“The rising smoke from the fire appears to have agitated the bees, leading to the attack,” said Anoop Yadav, an officer at Malthon police station. He confirmed that a post-mortem will be conducted in Bina, and a local investigation is underway.
Several others at the site were injured in the incident but are recovering.
This is the second deadly bee attack in Madhya Pradesh in recent months. In February, a similar tragedy occurred in Gura village, Shahdol district, where 75-year-old Premlal Kol died after a swarm of bees attacked villagers during a sacred fire ritual, or ‘havan,’ conducted after his return from the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
In that case, thick smoke from the ritual is believed to have provoked the bees. Premlal, unable to flee due to his age, succumbed to the stings before he could receive medical care.
Authorities are continuing to investigate both incidents and have urged caution during outdoor ceremonies, especially in areas where beehives may be present. (Source: IANS)
