Bee attack leads to 4 deaths in 5 years in Durgapur
The Statesman | 16 November 2025
A retired teacher, who was attacked by a swarm of honeybees, died in hospital yesterday.
Sixty-two-year-old Nirmal Dutta of Dhandabag was attacked by a large number of bees while taking his son to tuition on a two-wheeler last Sunday. Both fell from the vehicle but sustained only minor injuries. After returning home, Dutta experienced severe discomfort and became unresponsive. He was rushed to a private healthcare facility.
Doctors diagnosed a severe allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis, and removed as many as 890 stings from his mouth, throat and neck. Physicians said the sheer volume of venom and the stress on his body caused a fatal heart attack.
Dutta had retired from Regional Engineering College Model School two years ago and was focused on supporting his son’s education. His son, who was riding pillion, suffered far fewer stings and did not face major complications.
In a similar incident last October, Oliv Kushari, a teacher at Benachity High School, suffered a swarm attack. Doctors removed 90 stings from her face and neck.
A two-year-old girl, Barsa Roy, died at Durgapur Sub-Divisional Hospital on 3 September last year after being attacked by a swarm in the Railway Colony area. On 19 October 2021, Duariprasad Singh, an employee of a closed PSU glass company, died of honeybee venom after a swarm attacked him at the Government College crossing while he was cycling. Three days later, Titan Singh of Amaravati Colony was attacked at the same location and also died at the Sub-Divisional Hospital.