Man dies after bees attack during fete in Shamirpet

Hyderabad: One person died and several others injured in a freak mishap during the Mallanna Utsavalu Jatara at Shamirpet in the outskirts of the city on Monday.

The incident happened when a swarm of bees attacked devotees during the religious procession, held as part of the celebrations.

According to sources, the annual Mallanna Utsavalu Jatara was being held at the Shivalayam temple located at Uddemarri village in Shamirpet. Sunday midnight, the devotees were taking part in one of the rituals, which involved walking barefoot on a ember burning-stretch. As thousands of devotees gathered around the place, a few devotees were walking on the burning coal as a form of penance.

When all were so engrossed, suddenly bees from a nearby huge tree swarmed around the congested place and attacked the devotees. When they started running for safety, a stampede broke out in which a person got struck and died of suffocation.

Several others, including children and women, sustained severe injuries. Alerted by villagers Shamirpet police teams rushed to the spot and shifted the injured persons to hospital. Despite attempts by the police and villagers, they could not control the bees. Further inquiries are underway.