Mangaluru: In an incident reported from Kalabagilur, nine people have been critically injured when a swarm of honey bees stung them.

Gangaiah Gowda (60), Sheena Shetty (48), Aithappa Shetty (76), Arun Shetty (34), Lalitha (49), and four others were hospitalised with severe injuries.

According to sources, honey bees attacked them when they were on their way to Kalabagilu for a meeting of Sri Dharmasthala Rural Development Scheme members. When an eagle crashed into their comb, the honey bees got wild and attacked the people.

All of the injured have been admitted to Bantwal government hospital and are said to be out of danger.