A tragic series of drowning incidents claimed the lives of 46 people, including 37 children and seven women, across multiple districts in Bihar over the last 24 hours during the festival of ‘Jitiya’ or ‘Jivitputrika.’ The festival is observed by mothers for the prosperity and well-being of their children.
Chief minister Nitish Kumar expressed his condolences and announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹4 lakh each to the families of the deceased. “We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. The government stands with the bereaved families in this difficult time,” Kumar said in his statement.
The drowning cases were reported from districts including East and West Champaran, Aurangabad, Kaimur, Buxar, Siwan, Rohtas, Saran, Patna, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Gopalganj, and Arwal. Several National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been mobilized for search and rescue operations, with 43 bodies recovered so far, according to a disaster management department (DMD) official.
Among the worst-hit districts, Aurangabad saw the deaths of eight children in two separate incidents—four in Itahat village and another four in Kushaha village. Kaimur district also reported seven minor deaths in the Durgawati river and a nearby pond. In rural Patna, four people drowned in Amnabad village under the Bihta police station area, while five others, including two boys, died in separate incidents in Saran district.
Many of the victims were children who had gone to take a holy dip in water bodies, accompanied by their mothers, as part of the religious rituals associated with the ‘Jitiya’ festival. The district authorities have begun disbursing compensation, with eight families already receiving the ₹4 lakh ex-gratia payment.
Aurangabad District Magistrate Srikant Shastri said, “The victims were performing their religious duties with their families when the unfortunate incidents occurred. We have immediately responded by providing necessary support and relief to the affected families.”
The state government has directed rescue teams to remain vigilant and ensure proper safety measures near water bodies during the ongoing festival season.
Sources By Agencies