Honey bees attack Jagan, supporters during padayatra
YSR Congress chief Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy escaped unhurt when a swarm of honey bees attacked him and his followers while taking part in Praja Sankalp Yatra at Kondalamma temple of Kanuru of Peravali mandal in West Godavari on Thursday.
Mr Reddy started his padayatra from Nadupallikota of Peravali mandal at 8 am. He was accompanied by his followers and general public.
According to eyewitnesses, a large number of bees suddenly attacked the “padyatris” near Kanuru.
Mr Reddy walked for a distance of 2 km and reached Kanuru crossroad near Kondalamma temple at about 9.30 am. Suddenly, a swarm of honey bees started attacking Mr Reddy and his followers.
His security personnel plunged into action and started to shoo the bees away with towels. Though Mr Reddy managed to escape, about 10- 15 of his followers suffered bee stings. They were rushed to the local primary health centre and were given first aid, while two of them were shifted to government hospital at Nidadavole for medical treatment.
Sources said that a boy pelted a stone at a beehive hanging to a roadside tree and it stirred the honey bees.
Mr Reddy walked for another 300 metres after the incident and wound up the padayatra for the day. Later, he reached Rajahmundry airport and flew to Hyderabad, where he will attend a court hearing in Hyderabad on Friday in the disproportionate assets case.
The YSR Congress chief had launched the sixmonthlong foot march in November, in which he said he planned to cover 3,000 km across all 13 districts of the state to meet people and know their problems.