This is a representative image. (Needpix)
New Delhi: The celebration of the Jitiya festival turned tragic in Bihar as 39 people lost their lives due to drowning in various rivers and ponds. Most of the victims were participating in the traditional ritual of bathing in rivers to mark the festival, but the joyful occasion quickly turned into a disaster. The highest number of deaths occurred in Aurangabad, where 10 individuals tragically drowned.
Aurangabad witnessed the most devastating impact, with 10 people reportedly drowning while bathing during the Jitiya festival. The district was the hardest hit in Bihar, where celebrants had gathered near water bodies to perform religious rites. As the news of the drowning spread, rescue operations were immediately launched, but unfortunately, many had already lost their lives.
Apart from Aurangabad, several other districts reported fatalities. Chapra accounted for five deaths, while Rohtas reported four. Other districts where drowning incidents occurred include Kaimur (3), Siwan (3), Motihari (3), Bettiah (2), Begusarai (2), and one death each in Gopalganj, Bhojpur, Nalanda, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur, and Arwal. In many regions, search operations are still ongoing, and the death toll could rise as more bodies are recovered.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed his sorrow over the unfortunate events that unfolded during the Jitiya festival. He described the incidents as "deeply saddening" and extended his condolences to the grieving families. The Chief Minister also announced a compensation of ₹4 lakh for the families of the victims, offering financial support during this period of profound loss. He added, “I pray that God gives the families the strength to bear the loss of their loved ones.”
In a separate incident in Kaimur, a five-year-old child tragically drowned while bathing with family members near the Sakri Bandh on Wednesday evening during the Jitiya festival. The child, from Sakri village, was part of a group of women and children who had gathered near the river for the ritual bath when the incident occurred. Despite rescue efforts, the child could not be saved.
In Aurangabad, particularly in the Madanpur and Barun blocks, several young children drowned while participating in the festival's ritual bath. Reports indicate that all of the children who lost their lives were under the age of 14, adding to the heartbreak of the families and communities affected.
The district of Motihari was also struck by tragedy, with five people drowning in various incidents. In Kalyanpur, a mother and her daughter, along with two other children, drowned while bathing. Three children also lost their lives in the same area, bringing the total number of deaths in Motihari to five.
In another tragic case, a 13-year-old boy drowned in the Son River near the Dehri Pali Bridge in Rohtas while participating in the festival’s rituals.
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