Bee swarm kills woman, leaves son-in-law hurt

Raipur: What began as a routine trip to collect sarai seeds in a forest of Dhamtari district ended in tragedy on Tuesday when a swarm of honeybees attacked two family members, killing a woman and leaving her son-in-law seriously injured.

The incident occurred near Palgaon village in the Dugli region, where the woman had gone into the forest with her relative to collect sarai seeds and other forest produce. According to local residents, they were suddenly attacked by a large swarm of bees.

Panic-stricken, the two ran in different directions in an attempt to escape, but the bees continued stinging them repeatedly. Villagers said both suffered multiple stings and collapsed in the forest.

Family members and locals later rescued them and rushed them to hospital. The woman succumbed during treatment, while her son-in-law, who sustained serious injuries, remains admitted. Doctors said his condition is stable and he is recovering.

The incident has triggered shock in the village, with residents saying bee swarms have become increasingly aggressive in forested areas during peak summer.

Locals said many villagers continue depending on forests for daily collection activities such as sarai seed gathering, tendu leaf collection and firewood, forcing them to venture deep into wooded areas despite rising risks from wild animals, insects and extreme heat conditions.