Supposed to be a brilliant experience in the wilderness, a refreshing trek to Karnala Fort in Panvel turned into a nightmare for a group of visitors. On Saturday morning, a swarm of honey bees suddenly launched an aggressive attack on the visitors. The incident claimed the life of 44-year-old Sandeep Purohit, a resident of Koperkhairane, Navi Mumbai. Eight other visitors, including students from an engineering college in Mumbai, were also left injured. Read on to learn all about the incident!
Honey Bees Attack Trekkers At Karnala Fort
Around 11 am, a group of visitors was attacked by a swarm of bees. While the others tried to take cover by ducking to the ground, Sandeep Purohit panicked and tried to escape. He tried to flee from the area through an uneven path that led further into the fort area. Unfortunately, his attempt to run away made the situation worse.
While trying to escape, he tripped and fell, suffering a fatal head injury, the Hindustan Times reported. Once he fell, Purohit’s injury to the head left him unconscious. Reportedly, a distress call was immediately sent to the Karnala Bird Sanctuary. Within 45 minutes, a rescue team of sanctuary staff and volunteers from the NGO Nisarg Mitra arrived on the scene.
They discovered a number of other people with bee sting injuries, primarily students from an engineering college in Mumbai. The rescue team quickly evacuated the victims, including Purohit, to the sub-district hospital in Panve, as per the Hindustan Times reports. Tragically, Purohit was declared dead upon arrival due to the severe head injury caused by his fall.
Rescue Efforts Were Initiated Swiftly
The reason behind the bee attack hasn’t been determined yet. Forest officials, including Narayan Rathod, the range officer at the sanctuary, explained that such attacks are rare. “Bees generally don’t attack unless provoked by a strong smell or some other disturbance,” Rathod shared with the Hindustan Times. He also highlighted that this was the first such incident during his tenure.
This disturbing incident reminds us of how unpredictable nature can be, particularly in the wild. Although there was a tragic loss, the rescue team’s quick action ensured that other victims received the care they required.
The attack’s circumstances are currently being investigated by the forest officials.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva
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