Bees attack Theni collector, PWD officials as water is released from Vaigai dam

MADURAI: Theni district collector M V Muralidharan and seven PWD officials were stung by bees on Wednesday when a beehive on the second sluice of the Vaigai dam was opened to release water. PWD officials were taken to Theni Government Hospital for treatment while the collector was given first aid at the Vaigai dam guest house.
Minister for cooperatives I Periyasamy released water from the dam. However, the bees didn’t sting the minister.
Water was released for irrigation of the first crop on 1.05 lakh acres of land in Madurai, Dindigul and Theni districts. Usually, water is released for irrigation of the single crop area on September 15 when the combined Periyar credit crosses 6,000 mcft. Due to rain in the catchment, the Periyar credit touched 10,311 mcft. The last time water was released in advance was on August 21, 2018.