Baripada: At least eight devotees were seriously injured after being attacked by a swarm of bees during a special ritual at a temple in Odisha’s Maayurbhanj district on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya on Sunday.
Sources said a large number of devotees had gathered when special
rituals and havans were being performed in Jagannath temple at Sirsa under Saraskana block of the district. A troupe was performing Sankirtan on the occasion of the auspicious Akshaya Tritiya festival.
Arrangements were also being made to start construction of chariot for Rath Yatra when a swarm of bees entered the temple premises and unleshed an attack, triggering panic among people. Those present in the area ran helter skelter in a bid to escape.
At least eight persons, who sustained grievous injuries in the bee attack, were immediately rushed to a hospital at Sirsa. One of them was later shifted to PRM Medical College and Hospital at Baripada as his condition deteriorated.