Disturbing a nest during farmland clearing proves fatal for Balanthode GHSS educator.
KANHANGAD – In a heart-wrenching incident that has cast a pall of gloom over the Panathady panchayat, a 56-year-old high school teacher lost his life on Wednesday after being swarmed by hornets. The victim, P. Vijayakumar, a resident of Chamundikkunnu, was less than two weeks away from his official retirement when the tragedy occurred.
The incident took place while Vijayakumar was overseeing undergrowth clearing work on his farmland in Thumbodi, situated directly across from his residence. According to local officials, the educator was working alongside four laborers when they inadvertently disturbed a hornet’s nest concealed within an earthen mound.
The agitated swarm descended upon the group, specifically targeting Vijayakumar. Despite immediate attempts by the workers to intervene, the teacher sustained multiple stings and collapsed on the spot. While the four workers also suffered injuries, they are reportedly out of danger. Vijayakumar was rushed to a private hospital in Bandadukka, but medical professionals declared him dead on arrival.
A Career Cut Short
Vijayakumar served as a High School English teacher at the Government Higher Secondary School (GHSS), Balanthode. His death is particularly poignant as he was scheduled to retire from his long-standing teaching career on May 31. His colleagues noted that the school had recently celebrated his career with a formal farewell function, marking the end of his dedicated service to the student community.
Former PTA President Saji Kuruvinavelil remembered Vijayakumar as a pillar of the institution. He was instrumental in grassroots-level academic development, actively participating in enrollment drives to bring students into the school starting from the primary level.
Family and Legacy
Vijayakumar is survived by his wife, Sreeja, who serves as a rural ambassador for the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana. He leaves behind two children: a daughter, Anjana Vijayan, a naturopathy practitioner who was married only three months ago, and a son, Vishnu Vijayan, currently a third-year veterinary student.
The local community and the teaching fraternity in Kasaragod have expressed deep shock over the sudden demise of a man who was just days away from beginning a new chapter of his life in retirement.
