Mandya: A group of mourners ran for their life keeping the body on the ground when the bees suddenly attacked them.

The incident occurred at Peehalli in Srirangapatna taluk yesterday while the villagers were performing the last rites of Unturamma Devi’s Guddappa Boraiah alias Dollaiah.

Dollaiah died on Thursday night in the village. Yesterday, at around 12 noon nearly 150 villagers were taking his body for the last rites near Unturamma Devi temple. Suddenly the bees started attacking them. They got scared with this sudden attack and had no option but to leave the body there itself and run for their lives.

A few of them who were stung by the bees and became unwell were rushed to hospitals in Kodiyala and Arkere where they were treated. Two, including Nirmala who suffered badly were admitted to the Mandya District Hospital.

Last rites in the evening: Once the bee attack subsided the villagers came back in the evening and performed the last rites of Dollaiah.