A swarm of bees launched a fierce attack on villagers in Madhya Pradesh’s Shahdol district on Wednesday evening. The victim, identified as 75-year-old Premlal Kol, was unable to escape and succumbed to the deadly stings before he could receive medical attention. The cause of the bees’ agitation remains under investigation, the Vyohari police station’s investigating officer noted. Ten other individuals sustained injuries and have been hospitalised. His body was discovered four hours later, lying in a field 200 meters away from the havan site. The incident occurred when a villager was performing a ‘havan’ (In Hindu religions, a ‘Havan or homa’ is a fire ritual that involves making offerings into the fire, including grains, ghee, milk, incense, and seeds) after returning from the recently concluded Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The smoke disturbed a beehive in a nearby peepal tree, causing the bees to attack the gathered villagers. The ensuing chaos led to a stampede, with people frantically seeking refuge by jumping into water bodies or hiding in their homes.
