HAMIRPUR, April 14:— A wedding celebration in Rakkad village turned tragic on Monday morning after 25 members of a family, including the groom, were injured in a wasp attack near a temple.
The incident occurred when groom Naveen Singh and his relatives visited Guga temple as part of a traditional pre-wedding ritual. As they completed the puja, a swarm of wasps suddenly attacked, triggering panic and chaos among the attendees.
“Everyone began running in different directions to escape the stings,” said Dilip Singh, the groom’s father, adding that the joyful atmosphere shifted dramatically after the incident.
All injured were taken to Nadaun Hospital for treatment. Health officials confirmed that five individuals are in critical condition, while several others, including the groom, sustained serious injuries.
“The wedding rituals have been put on hold for now,” Dilip Singh mentioned.
Officials noted that wasp stings can be severe and even life-threatening, especially when multiple individuals are attacked at once.
Just two days earlier, a similar incident was reported in Kar Yalag (Jol) village in Bilaspur district, where two women were attacked by honey bees while cutting grass.
Experts note that wasps, unlike honey bees, are carnivorous and aggressive by nature. “They feed on insects and spiders and often react violently when disturbed,” said an official from the local forest department. Honey bees, by contrast, are essential pollinators and generally attack only when provoked.
