43 Drown During ‘Jivitputrika’ Festival

Bihar: At least 43 people, including 37 children, tragically drowned, and three others remain missing in separate incidents during the ‘Jivitputrika’ festival in Bihar. The state government reported that the accidents occurred while devotees were taking holy dips in rivers and ponds across 15 districts on Wednesday.

‘Jivitputrika’ Festival

‘Jivitputrika’ is a major festival in Bihar, where women fast and take holy dips in rivers or ponds, praying for the well-being of their children.

Districts Affected

Drowning incidents were reported in East and West Champaran, Nalanda, Aurangabad, Kaimur, Buxar, Siwan, Rohtas, Saran, Patna, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Gopalganj, and Arwal districts.

Relief Measures

The Bihar government has recovered 43 bodies and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the families of the deceased. The process of compensation has begun, and eight families have already received the aid.

Authorities continue search and recovery efforts in affected areas.