Bhubaneswar:

Several members of the youth wing of the Congress were seen fleeing in panic to escape an attack by a swarm of bees during a protest in Bhubaneswar on Monday.

Holding party flags and banners, the youth Congress activists took out a protest march to gherao the residence of senior IAS officer Bishnupada Sethi in Bhubaneswar over his alleged involvement in a corruption case, which is under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The CBI on December 10 issued a summons to Mr Sethi, the principal secretary of ST&SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department in connection with a Rs 10 lakh bribery case. Sethi also holds the additional charge as principal secretary of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department.

The CBI has arrested three persons including Chanchal Mukherjee, group general manager, Bridge and Roof Construction Company Ltd, Bhubaneswar in this case.

When the youth Congress activists reached Mr Sethi’s house, suddenly, a swarm of bees started attacking them. The agitators started running helter-skelter to protect themselves. Some of the protesters were seen covering themselves with the banners they brought for the agitation.

The deployed police personnel and journalists covering the youth Congress protest also faced the bee attack. Many of them laid down on the ground covering their faces to protect themselves from the bees.

After some time, as the bees went away, the youth Congress activists resumed their protest and clashed with the police when they staged a march towards Sethi’s home.

When the police prevented them mid-way, the youth Congress members hurled eggs and tomatoes at the house of the IAS officer. The police detained several protesters.

“Sethi has been involved in several corruption practices. We demand his immediate arrest,” said Ranjit Patra, state president of the Youth Congress.

Earlier, Congress activists had staged a demonstration before the SC, ST Development Minister Nityananda Gond’s residence alleging that a black-listed contractor was engaged by the department.

“Minister Gond should be brought under the purview of the CBI investigation. Otherwise, we will intensify our protest,” a Congress leader said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Agra:

Nearly 40 school children were injured in a bee attack in the Bah region of Uttar Pradesh’s Agra district on Tuesday, officials said.

The attack resulted in six children being hospitalised.

According to sources, the sudden collapse of a beehive from a nearby tree triggered the attack, catching the unsuspecting children off-guard.

School staff quickly evacuated the affected area, but not before numerous students and faculty members fell victim to the bee stings.

Parents of the injured children gathered outside the school premises, alleging negligence by the administration and its failure to ensure student safety. They claimed that the school was aware of the hive near the school gate but took no action.

Meanwhile, school principal Manju Rani Tyagi defended the administration and said that the beehive was located outside the premises, making the attack seem very unlikely.

She said that the injured students were promptly taken to the community health centre in Bah for medical care and the school was shut temporarily.

Jitendra Verma, Superintendent of the Bah Community Health Centre, confirmed that six children arrived in critical condition and were referred to S.N. Medical College after initial treatment.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)