Over 20 devotees injured in bee attack during Maha Bishuba Sankranti festival in Gajapati

A spiritual gathering turned chaotic on Sunday when a swarm of wild hornets (locally known as Baghua Mahu Machhi) launched a sudden and aggressive attack on a crowd of devotees at the revered Shaiva Peetha in Chandragiri village, located in Odisha’s Gajapati district on Monday. 

The incident occurred amidst the Maha Bishuba Sankranti celebrations, a day that saw hundreds of devotees visiting the temple for darshan and rituals.

More About The Incident:

According to local sources, the temple premises was bustling with pilgrims who had come not just from nearby areas but also from distant places to offer prayers on this auspicious day. As the crowd swelled in the morning, a hidden hive of bees, believed to have been disturbed by the rising noise and movement near a tree within the temple compound, suddenly descended upon the gathering.

Panic ensued as the bees stung devotees indiscriminately. More than 20 individuals sustained injuries, including several small children. The nature of the attack was so sudden and intense that the devotees had little time to react or escape.

Witnesses describe the scene as chaotic, with many running in all directions while trying to protect themselves and others. The injured were immediately rushed to the nearby Chandragiri Community Health Centre (CHC), where they are currently undergoing treatment. Health officials have confirmed that some of the victims are in critical condition and are being closely monitored.

Temple authorities, along with local administration and medical teams, are managing the situation and have advised devotees to remain cautious. 

Additional safety measures are being discussed to prevent such incidents in the future, especially during large gatherings at religious sites.

The Chandragiri Shaiva Peetha is a well-known temple in the region and attracts thousands of pilgrims, particularly during religious festivals like Maha Bishuba Sankranti. This unexpected incident has cast a shadow over the celebrations, though devotees continue to arrive, now under tighter observation.