A senior umpire of the Kanpur Cricket Association (KCA), Manik Gupta, died after a swarm of bees attacked players and officials during a local cricket match in Unnao.
The incident occurred at Sapru Ground in Shuklaganj during a KDMA league match between YMCC and Paramount. Gupta, 65, and fellow umpire Jagdish Sharma were officiating when bees hovered around them for nearly ten minutes. Dressed in white, both umpires became the primary targets as the swarm stung players and officials, forcing the match to stop midway.
Eyewitnesses reported chaos as players ran for cover while several suffered severe stings. The sudden attack created panic across the ground.
Gupta was rushed to two private hospitals in Shuklaganj before being referred to Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital in Kanpur. Doctors later shifted him to the Laxmipat Singhania Institute of Cardiology, where he was declared dead.
Gupta, a resident of Pheelkhana, had served as an umpire with the KCA for nearly three decades. His death shocked the cricketing community, which remembered him as a dedicated official respected across local leagues.
The incident also injured several players and officials, highlighting the unexpected dangers faced during sporting events. Local authorities confirmed that medical teams treated those affected, while league organisers expressed grief over Gupta’s passing.
