Koderma: More than a dozen devotees, mostly women and children, were injured on Wednesday after a swarm of hornets attacked a Karma Puja gathering at Manorathdih village under the Satgawan police station area.The incident occurred on the banks of the Chhotnar River, where villagers had assembled for the traditional immersion of the Karam branch after the festival rituals. Panic broke out when hornets suddenly descended on the crowd. According to villagers, a hornet nest hidden in a tree near the riverbank was disturbed during the ceremony, triggering the attack on those gathered below.Several victims suffered painful stings, and one young girl collapsed and fainted at the spot as devotees ran for safety. Villagers and family members immediately helped the injured and rushed them to the Satgawan Community Health Centre for emergency treatment.Basodih Panchayat Mukhiya Anita Devi and social worker Rajesh Yadav reached the health centre soon after and met medical officer-in-charge Suresh Ram to ensure prompt care. Doctors said all injured people are being treated and their condition is under continuous observation. The attack turned a festive riverbank ceremony into a chaotic rush for help, with residents saying that timely transport prevented the situation from worsening further.
