Kalpetta: Five officials of the Irrigation Department were injured in a honeybee attack at the Banasura Sagar Dam premises on Tuesday afternoon. The team was on a routine inspection when the swarm attacked them near the dam’s spillway.

All five were taken to a nearby hospital, and four were later shifted to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital after their condition worsened. Two of them were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for further monitoring.

The injured officials have been identified as Assistant Engineer P Akash, Assistant Executive Engineer V Sandeep, Irrigation Finance Department Administrative Officer D Biju, Shibu Abraham and Hareesh.

Sandeep, who suffered minor stings, told Onmanorama that none of the officials are in critical condition. D Biju was moved to KMCH on Tuesday evening, while the other three were shifted later that night after showing signs of bee poisoning, he said.

According to officials, the attack occurred when the inspection team entered a restricted area where several beehives are located. A disturbance possibly caused by a bird or other movement may have provoked the swarm.