This story is from February 19, 2019

Wild bees shut down training school in Chamarajanagar

Wild bees shut down training school in Chamarajanagar
MYSURU: Around 300 students of Government Industrial Training Institute in Beguru in Chamarajanagar district got an extended weekend as a thriving beehive at the entrance kept them out of their classes on Monday. The institute in Beguru comes under Gundlupet taluk on the Mysuru-Ooty highway in Chamarajanagar district. It is about 20km from Bandipur tiger reserve.
There was no hive in sight on Saturday when the institute was locked for the weekend.
As the staff returned on Monday morning to open the doors, they found a massive swathe of bees on the main entrance of the administrative block.
The staff told TOI that a wild bee hive in the locality had perhaps been disturbed and the bees gathered around the light bulb at the main entrance of the institute. “They might have got attracted to the light during the night. There are hundreds of wild bees at the entrance and it is very dangerous to go near the building,” one employee said.
Before the staff could alert principal Lubna Nikath and other officials, students began arriving for classes. The staff alerted the students and virtually cordoned off the area. Dozens stood watching from a distance as wild bees buzzed around the hive in a loud hum.
Meanwhile, institute officials contacted the forest department and fire services to remove the hive. But both wrung their hands, saying the matter did not fall under their purview. Finally, the staff contacted locals and tribals from neighbouring areas to remove the hive.
Training officer HS Prasad said all the classrooms and staff rooms were located in the administrative block so students could not enter the building. “I called the tribals and local men who are experts in removing hives but they said it could be done only in the evening. I informed the higher-ups in the department and they asked me to declare a holiday, considering the safety of students,” said Prasad who was forced to wait in the safety of his car till the local taskforce arrived.
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