Woman, 110, killed in wasp attack

A 110-year-old woman - the oldest living person in the Mala Araya tribe - and her 82-year-old daughter succumbed to injuries sustained in a wasp attack at Pakkanam in Kerala's Kottayam district Wednesday.

Their house help and a neighbour, who tried to rescue the two women, were also injured. Pakkanam natives Kunjupennu and her daughter Thankamma died during treatment at a private hospital in Mundakayam.

Locals said Kunjupennu had no health issues and was very active. Around 4pm Tuesday, both women were in the house compound when a palm frond fell on a pepper plant, disturbing a wasp nest.

Agitated, the insects attacked the mother-daughter duo. Hearing their cries, their house help Joy (78) and a neighbour rushed to the spot. All four were stung by the wasps.

The four injured were taken to a hospital, where Thankamma remained on ventilator since Tuesday while Kunjupennu was on the path to recovery. However, both succumbed later in the day.