Elderly woman shields 25 children from bees, dies in attack:Administration denies bravery, says, ‘Teacher saved students not Kanchandevi’

Eight-year-old Jivika’s voice trembles as she recalls the moment that changed her village forever and said, Grandmother was giving us water when the bees attacked. She covered us with a blanket. Later, we saw her lying on the ground. Jivika is not alone. Every resident of Ranapur village in Neemuch district is grieving the loss of Kanchan Bai, a self-help group leader and anganwadi worker who villagers say sacrificed her life to save 25 children during a sudden honeybee attack on February 2. The incident: A split-second decision, a fatal outcome According to villagers and eyewitnesses, Kanchan Bai had taken anganwadi children to a hand pump near the centre to give them water after lunch. A beehive was located on a nearby tree. Without warning, a swarm attacked. Before anyone could react, Kanchan Bai reportedly removed her sari and ran towards the children, shielding them. When the bees continued to attack, she rushed the children inside the anganwadi building and covered them with mats and rugs—placing herself over them like a human shield. Minutes later, she collapsed. She was declared dead at the hospital. The statement said that it was not Kanchan Bai but the teacher teaching in the school who saved the children’s lives. Read the full report A village gripped by fear Ranapur, a small village under Madavda gram panchayat, lies 36 km from Neemuch and has a population of barely 200. Two days after the incident, fear still dominates daily life. The anganwadi centre remains locked. The only hand pump in the village—located next to the centre—stands unused as residents fear another bee attack. Children are so traumatised that many break down at the mere mention of school. Four to five children sustained minor injuries during the attack. “She had a heart of gold” Kanchan Bai lived in a modest home at the far end of the village. Her husband is paralysed, and she was the sole earning member of the family. She cooked meals for children at the anganwadi and earned a small honorarium through a self-help group. That income paid for her husband’s treatment and kept food on the table. When the media visited during her funeral rites, hundreds of villagers had gathered. One resident summed it up quietly: “Not one, but many families were saved that day.” Eyewitness account: “She became a shield” Dilip Meghwal, an eyewitness, recalls reaching the scene around 3:30 pm after hearing children scream. “A swarm of bees was attacking the children. I covered my face and ran in. Kanchan Bai had wrapped the children with her sari and mats. Her body was exposed. She was lying over them like armour. All the bees were attacking her.” He said that by the time villagers carried her out, foam was coming from her mouth and blood from her nose. An emergency call was made, but doctors later declared her dead. Bees still aggressive, danger lingers Even two days later, the bees remain highly aggressive. When reporters approached the anganwadi with villagers, the swarm attacked again, forcing everyone to take cover. Villagers say the bees attack five to seven times a day. One hive is hidden in dense bushes near the hand pump, and another large hive hangs from a tree in the middle of the village—raising fears of another tragedy. Inside the Anganwadi: Silent evidence of chaos Inside the locked anganwadi, scattered school bags, books, water bottles, and disordered mats tell the story of panic and desperation. Dead bees still litter the floor. The scene bears silent testimony to the 15 minutes of terror—and the extraordinary courage villagers attribute to Kanchan Bai. Family’s pain: “My mother saved other mothers” Kanchan Bai’s son Ravi, holding back tears, said: “Life was difficult, but my mother faced everything. There is sorrow, but also peace—she saved other mothers from losing their children.” The family is deeply distressed that no administrative official or public representative visited them even two days after the incident. Sarpanch promises support Village sarpanch Lalaram Rawat said efforts are underway to safely remove the beehives and that he will approach elected representatives and officials to secure financial assistance for the bereaved family. Administration’s version: “The teacher saved the children” The administration, however, has issued a written statement disputing villagers’ claims. According to Women and Child Development Officer Ankita Pandya, Kanchan Bai was washing clothes near the hand pump when the bees attacked. As she ran toward the anganwadi, the bees followed her. At that time, a primary school class was in progress at the anganwadi building. The statement says teacher Mangla Malviya covered 20 children with mats and tarpaulin, saving them. It also claims no anganwadi children were present after 1 pm, as the centre operates only till then. Two narratives, one loss While the administration credits the teacher, villagers stand firmly by their account—insisting that Kanchan Bai died protecting children. As Ranapur mourns, the unanswered question remains: why did courage cost a woman her life—and why is that courage now being questioned?