Kendrapara: A swarm of honeybees stung around a dozen students and teachers of a government-run primary school at Derabish block of Kendrapara district on Monday morning.

The bees entered the classrooms of Chatara-Chakada Primary School around 9am and started attacking students and teachers, said headmaster Niranjan Pati.

None of the victims were critical.

The bees dispersed after the villagers lit a fire and smoked the insects out of the school.

However, they returned as soon as the fire was out. Consequently, the school had to be closed for the day.

The honeybees had built a two-foot beehive in a tree on the school premises. A herd of monkeys destroyed it and this led to the bees invading the school.

They also attacked several pedestrians in the area.

"With the bees hovering in the area, the school had be closed for the day," said Headmaster Pati.

The beehive was brought down and the school authorities hope to resume classes from Tuesday after the bees disperse from the place.