Karwar: Atleast ten persons were left with swollen faces, with the condition of a few of them described as serious at the hospital they were admitted to after a swarm of honeybees reportedly attacked them in Kumta taluk of Uttara Kannada district.

The incident occurred in Hindbail village near Santheguli when someone is said to have disturbed a beehive found by the highway that connects Kumta with Honnavar

The agitated bees swooped down in large numbers randomly attacking people who happened to be in the area. According to eyewitness, the attack was so “vicious" that some of the victims rolled on the ground in a bid to escape being repeatedly sting. Those with serious injuries were rushed to the nearby primary health centre. Some of them were later shifted to Kumta Government Hospital, where they had to be treated in the emergency ward.

"We discharged them in the evening after their condition stabilised," Dr Venkatiah Naik informed reporters.

This is the second such honeybee attack on people on this stretch of road, with the earlier case having been reported about two weeks ago. According to an expert, increased noise and heat could be the cause for the bees' "irritated behaviour".