Belthangady : Over 80 devotees injured in wild bee attack at Gadaikallu

Belthangady : Over 80 devotees injured in wild bee attack at Gadaikallu

Mangalore Today News Network

Belthangady, Mar 25, 2013 : Over 80 devotees sustained injuries, eight of them seriously in wild bee attack when they had been to the Gadaikallu Hill on March 24, Sunday to offer prayers on the occasion of the Palm Sunday which marks the end of the Lenten Season.

The injured had to struggle for over hours with pain until help came their way,As is the practice, over 500 parishioners led by Fr James D’Souza, Parish Priest of Holy Redeemer Church and Fr Melwyn Noronha, Assistant Parish Priest,  had been to the hill on Sunday. 

The incident took place when they were about to return after the prayers. It is said a group of devotees from Ujire, paying no heed to the warning of the priests against disturbing  the honey combs, climbed higher after the prayers when a swarm of bees surrounded the devotees and attacked them as others watched helplessly.

Even the Assistant Parish Priest sustained injuries when  he fell in his bid to escape from the bee attack. After hours of wait help arrived and first aid was provided to the injured. The seriously injured were rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. Later, locals on coming to know of the incident rushed to the spot and helped the victims of the bee attack.