Pune: A sudden bee attack at Rajgad Fort left 25 to 30 tourists injured on Sunday, with three of them narrowly escaping death thanks to immediate assistance. The incident occurred around 11 AM near the fort’s balekilla (citadel) when a beehive was disturbed, causing the bees to swarm and attack the visitors. (Rajgad Fort News)

With the long weekend drawing large crowds to Rajgad Fort, the fort was bustling with tourists. Around 10:30 to 11:00 AM, the bees became agitated near the balekilla, leading to a chaotic scene as the insects stung tourists, resulting in several minor injuries. In a bid to escape, some tourists ran towards safer spots on the fort, while others jumped into the nearby Padmavati Lake to avoid the bee swarm.

Local officials quickly stepped in to manage the situation. Bapu Sable and Vishal Pilavare, employees of the Archaeological Department, instructed the visitors and provided shelter to some in the department’s office on the fort. (Pune News)

Life-Saving Rescue

Among the injured was a group from Mumbai, including 24-year-old Pratham Ahire from Andheri West, who suffered severe stings. In his attempt to flee, he lost his balance and slipped at two or three spots while descending the fort. Ahire experienced nausea halfway down the fort, making his condition even more critical. Fortunately, a group of young men from Baramati—Ranjit Bichkule, Maruti Waghmare, Yogesh Malgunde, Aniket Malgunde, and Swapnil Kharat—noticed the situation and decided to help. They removed the bee stingers from Ahire’s body, gave him water, and assisted him down the fort, preventing further injuries.

Two other members of Ahire’s group, Vishal Gaikwad and Shubham Khare, both also from Andheri West, managed to save themselves by jumping into nearby bushes. They were later contacted by the Baramati tourists after Ahire informed them of their whereabouts.