Srirangapatna:  A group of 12 tourists, who were waiting for their turn to go boating at Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary on Monday, was seriously injured when a swarm of bees attacked the tourists.

The injured tourists, said to be from Bengaluru, include two children and four women of a family and others.

The staff at the Sanctuary, who were present at the place, immediately rescued the injured tourists and admitted them to Srirangapatna General Hospital.

Meanwhile, the officials closed the Sanctuary as a precautionary measure and informed the higher authorities about the incident. Sources said that works pertaining to removal of beehives have been going on since three days.

As it a holiday season, thousands of tourists, including foreigners, visit the Bird Sanctuary daily and closure of the Sanctuary since Monday has incurred huge loss to the Department besides causing disappointment to tourists.

If the authorities had taken precautionary measures, such an incident would not have occurred, said a tourist expressing his displeasure.