Pune: Perfume Triggers Bee Attack on Rajgad Fort, Injuring Over 20 Tourists

Velhe, 20th December 2025: Ignoring guidelines issued by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and basic norms for protecting natural habitats, overzealous tourist behaviour has led to repeated bee attack incidents at Rajgad Fort over the past three months, injuring more than 200 visitors on four to five occasions.

The latest incident occurred on Saturday afternoon when 20 to 25 tourists were attacked by bees at Suvela Machi on Rajgad Fort, triggering panic among visitors. According to Archaeological Department officials, the incident took place around noon.

Kiledar Dadu Vegre and Bapu Sable said seven to eight tourists sustained serious injuries and were rushed to primary health centres in Velhe (Rajgad taluka) and Nasrapur (Bhor taluka) for treatment. Other tourists suffered minor injuries and were treated locally.

Preliminary information from Archaeological Department staff suggests that the bees were provoked by the strong scent of perfume worn by a female tourist from a group that had arrived from Karad and Mumbai for sightseeing. Soon after, the bees swarmed the area, forcing tourists to flee in different directions to escape the attack.

Emergency services were alerted, and injured tourists contacted the 108 ambulance service. Those who were seriously injured or had fallen unconscious were brought down from the fort with the help of Archaeological Department staff Dadu Vegre, Bapu Sable, Deepak Pilavare, Balu Hirve, Police Patil Nana Dardige, and fellow tourists.

Dr Chandrakant Bhoite said that Avinash Chavan (25) and Ganesh Chavan (28), both residents of Sajur village in Karad taluka, are currently undergoing treatment at the primary health centre in Velhe. Several other injured tourists are receiving medical care at health facilities in Bhor taluka.

Officials and locals have expressed concern over the lack of preventive measures on the fort in recent months. Despite repeated advisories, tourists continue to flout ASI instructions and ignore rules related to natural ecosystems, resulting in frequent injuries and, in some cases, fatalities.

Residents and officials have urged the archaeological and local administrations to conduct checks at the base of forts, especially on holidays, and to brief tourists on safety guidelines before allowing them to ascend. They believe that strict enforcement and awareness can significantly reduce accidents and ensure visitor safety at heritage sites like Rajgad Fort.