Several tourists sustained injuries after a swarm of honeybees attacked visitors at Sinhagad Fort near Pune, Maharashtra, on Sunday afternoon. Authorities evacuated people from the area and provided medical assistance to the injured.
The incident occurred near the samadhi of Maratha warrior Tanaji Malusare at the historic Sinhagad Fort, a popular trekking and tourist destination located about 30 kilometres from Pune.
According to reports, the swarm attack began after a beehive in the area was disturbed. Some reports indicated that stones were thrown from the fort ramparts, which may have triggered the bees to swarm and attack people nearby.
Officials reported that around 25 visitors were injured in the incident. Several tourists sustained multiple bee stings as the swarm spread across the area. Visitors moved away from the area as the swarm spread.
Among those injured was a one and a half year old child, according to local reports.
Emergency responders and local volunteers assisted injured individuals and moved them away from the attack zone. Some victims received treatment at the Primary Health Centre in Khanapur, while others were taken to nearby hospitals for further care.
Authorities also temporarily halted vehicular movement on the Sinhagad ghat road to manage the situation and allow rescue efforts to proceed safely.
Personnel from the forest department, police, and local administration reached the site after receiving information about the incident. Rescue teams helped evacuate visitors from the area and ensured that injured people received medical attention.
Authorities also temporarily restricted entry to the fort following the incident as a precautionary measure.
Sinhagad Fort attracts a large number of tourists and trekkers, particularly on weekends. The fort is surrounded by forested terrain where bee colonies and other wildlife may be present.
Bee stings usually cause localized reactions such as pain, redness, swelling, and itching at the site of the sting. These symptoms often resolve within a few hours or days.
However, some individuals can develop systemic allergic reactions known as anaphylaxis, which require immediate medical care. Symptoms may include difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat or tongue, widespread rash, dizziness, and a sudden drop in blood pressure.
Medical studies estimate that systemic allergic reactions to insect stings occur in about 3 percent of adults and around 1 percent of children.
Medical literature also describes a condition called mass envenomation, which occurs when a person receives many bee stings within a short period. Each sting injects venom that contains biologically active compounds including melittin, phospholipase A2, apamin, and hyaluronidase. These substances contribute to inflammation, pain, and tissue injury.
Research indicates that melittin accounts for about 50 to 60 percent of honeybee venom and plays a significant role in the biological effects of the venom.
When a person receives numerous stings, the total venom dose can lead to systemic toxic reactions even in individuals who do not have an allergy to bee venom. Reported complications of severe envenomation include:
hemolysis
muscle injury
kidney damage
cardiovascular effects
In rare situations, patients may develop multi organ dysfunction that requires hospital care.
Medical reports also indicate that the risk of toxic envenomation increases with the number of stings. Toxic reactions have been reported when individuals receive more than 50 stings, while very severe toxicity can occur when the number of stings reaches hundreds of stings, especially in adults, or fewer stings relative to body weight in children.
Because swarm attacks can expose individuals to multiple stings within a short time, health experts recommend medical evaluation for anyone who sustains numerous stings or develops symptoms beyond local skin reactions.
If symptoms of an allergic reaction occur after a bee sting, seeking medical attention should be the top priority. Immediate treatment for severe allergic reactions includes epinephrine, which helps reverse the symptoms of anaphylaxis when administered promptly.
Following the incident at Sinhagad Fort, authorities advised visitors to avoid disturbing beehives and to follow safety instructions issued at the site. Outdoor areas such as hill forts and forested tourist sites may contain bee colonies, and disturbing hives can trigger defensive swarming behavior in honeybees.
References
American Academy of Family Physicians. 2003. “Stinging Insect Allergy.” American Family Physician. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2003/0615/p2541.html
Pucca, Marcos V., et al. 2019. “Africanized Honeybee Envenomation.” Toxicon.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6743376/
Silva, Glauber B., et al. 2017. “Acute Kidney Injury Following Bee Stings.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7652159/
(Rh/MSM)
