Bee attack at the Thiruvananthapuram Collectorate sparks safety concerns and ecological debate

An unprecedented honey bee attack at the Thiruvananthapuram Collectorate has sparked much concern over similar possibilities in public offices, high-rise residential apartments and other high-footfall buildings across the district.

While the authorities have commenced steps to remove bee hives and wasp nests with assistance from the Forest department in various places, forest officials have voiced concerns about the ecological impact of destroying the natural ecosystems of honey bees that play a vital role as pollinators.

At least a hundred people including staff, police personnel, journalists and onlookers, were stung during a frantic search operation following a bomb threat that ultimately turned out to be a hoax. The search inadvertently disturbed multiple beehives present within the office complex, triggering the swarm attack.

Emergency meeting

Following the incident, steps were expedited to address the situation. Beekeepers were deployed to carefully remove and relocate the hives to safer environments.

Deputy Collector (Disaster Management) Sreekumar G. said that all beehives at the Collectorate have since been removed. Denying any maintenance lapses, he pointed out that the District Collector convened an emergency meeting the following day to ensure necessary measures were adopted for the removal of such hives. He further assured that periodic inspections will be carried out to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

The incident has also brought attention to the presence of beehives in other public offices across the district, including in Nedumangad and Kadakkavoor, sparking widespread concern among the public.

‘Exercise caution’

Nedumangad Tahsildar Saji S. Kumar said that the Palode forest range office has been alerted about the beehives at the Nedumangad Revenue Tower, which houses multiple government offices. The public has been advised to exercise caution until the hives are safely removed.

The Forest department has stepped in to aid the efforts by enlisting the services of tribespeople from areas such as Peringamala and Kottoor. These traditional bee handlers use lit torches to scorch the hives, forcing the bees to flee away.

While these measures are being implemented across affected locations, forest officials have expressed deep concerns regarding the ecological impact of mass hive destruction. They emphasise that honey bees play a crucial role as pollinators and form an essential part of the urban ecosystem. The indiscriminate removal of hives, especially during the honey harvesting season, could have severe repercussions on local biodiversities.

The situation has also cast a spotlight on the inadequate maintenance of public office premises and highlights the need for regular upkeep and pre-emptive measures to avoid such incidents in the future.