Patna, Sept 26: In a tragic series of incidents, 43 people, including 37 children, drowned during the ‘Jivitputrika’ festival across Bihar, the state government confirmed on Thursday. Three others remain missing as search and rescue efforts continue.
The drownings occurred on Wednesday in various rivers and ponds across 15 districts of the state as families participated in the annual ‘Jivitputrika’ festival, a Hindu tradition where mothers observe fasts and take holy dips in water bodies to pray for the long lives and well-being of their children.
State officials said the incidents unfolded in districts including Patna, Muzaffarpur, Gaya, and Bhagalpur, among others. The festival, which holds great religious significance for the people of Bihar, unfortunately turned tragic for many families this year.
Rescue operations have been intensified in the affected areas, with the local administration, disaster response teams, and police working together to recover the missing and prevent further accidents.
The Bihar Government has announced compensation for the families of the deceased and assured full support to the grieving families. Officials have also urged caution for the remainder of the festival, which typically sees a high turnout of devotees near water bodies.
This is not the first time that incidents of drowning have been reported during religious festivals in the state. Authorities are now calling for stricter safety measures and better management around such events to prevent future tragedies.
