Bihar Drowning Incidents: 37 Children Die During Jitiya Festival

In a tragic series of events, as many as 46 people, including 37 children, lost their lives in separate drowning incidents across Bihar over the past 24 hours during the celebration of the Jitiya or Jivitputrika festival, a government official confirmed.

46 Dead Including 37 Children In Drowning Incidents 

The festival is traditionally observed by mothers for the well-being and prosperity of their children. Many of these drownings occurred when children, along with their mothers, went to take a holy dip in rivers and ponds as part of the religious ritual.

The incidents were reported from various districts across the state, including East and West Champaran, Aurangabad, Kaimur, Buxar, Siwan, Rohtas, Saran, Patna, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Gopalganj, and Arwal. 

Several of the victims were children accompanied by family members who had gone to bathe in water bodies for the festival. The Bihar Disaster Management Department (DMD) stated that 43 bodies have been recovered so far, and search operations are still underway. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed for rescue efforts.

Chief Minister Announces Compensation

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹4 lakh to the next of kin of those who lost their lives. The compensation has already been disbursed to eight families, with the rest to follow as more bodies are identified and recovered.

A DMD official confirmed, “So far, 43 bodies have been fished out, and ₹4 lakh will be given as ex-gratia to each of the victim’s families. Eight families have already received the amount.”

Aurangabad and Kaimur Worst Hit

The district of Aurangabad was particularly hard-hit, with eight children drowning in two separate incidents. Four children drowned in Itahat village under Baruna police station and another four in Kushaha village of Madanpur police station area.

In Kaimur, seven minors drowned while bathing in the Durgawati river and a nearby pond in the Bhabhua and Mohania police station areas.

“The incidents occurred when the victims, accompanied by their families, went for a holy dip in the water bodies,” said Aurangabad District Magistrate Srikant Shastri.

Other Affected Areas

In rural Patna, four drowning cases were reported from Amnabad village under the Bihta police station area, where five people, including two boys, drowned.

Saran district also witnessed several tragic incidents, with five people drowning in various police station areas, including Daudpur, Manjhi, Taraiya, and Marhaura.

Search and Rescue Operations Continue

Rescue operations by the NDRF and SDRF are still ongoing as authorities continue to search for any missing individuals. The DMD has confirmed that the bodies of all the victims will be recovered and that the families will be provided with compensation and support.