Daijiworld Media Network - Kanpur

Kanpur, Feb 19: A 65-year-old cricket umpire lost his life after a swarm of bees suddenly attacked players and officials during a match in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur, triggering panic at the stadium.

The deceased has been identified as Manik Gupta, who was associated with the Kanpur Cricket Association for nearly three decades. Gupta was officiating an under-13 match when the incident occurred.

Eyewitnesses said the bees descended on the ground without warning, forcing players and spectators to run for cover. Amid the chaos, Gupta sustained serious injuries. He was first taken to a local hospital and later shifted to an advanced medical facility due to his critical condition. Doctors, however, declared him dead.

Another umpire, Jagdish Sharma, was also injured in the attack but is reported to be out of danger. Several others who suffered bee stings have been hospitalised and are undergoing treatment.

Gupta had been a respected figure in local cricketing circles and had officiated numerous prominent regional matches during his long association with the Kanpur Cricket Association.

In a similar incident in 2019, a one-day match between India A and England Lions in Thiruvananthapuram was briefly halted after bees attacked individuals at the stadium. Though several people were stung in that episode, no fatalities were reported.

The tragic incident in Kanpur has raised concerns over safety arrangements at sporting venues, particularly in open grounds vulnerable to such unexpected natural disturbances.