27 Chhath devotees injured in honey bee attack

Dhanbad: Twenty-seven Chhath devotees, including women and children, were injured in an attack by a swarm of bees when they were offering prayers to the Sun God at Anand Bhawan Talab at Jharia.

The attack by the bees on Sunday evening led to a stampede-like situation with some devotees jumping into the pond to save themselves, police said.

Five persons including two children were admitted to a hospital after the incident on Sunday. Doctors on Monday said they were out of danger.

Other 22 injured persons were released after first aid, the police said.

Police officer S K Sinha, who was deployed at the spot, said there were honeycombs on trees near the water body which might have been affected by fire crackers or stones thrown at them from someone in the crowd.

This led to the attack by the bees on devotees at the bank of the pond.