At least 46 people, including 37 children and seven women, have drowned while bathing in rivers and ponds swollen by recent floods during the observance of a Hindu religious festival in north India. The incidents occurred during the annual festival of Jivitputrika Vrat in the eastern state of Bihar across 15 districts. Devotees were celebrating by fasting for 24 hours and offering prayers for the well-being of their children, then bathing in rivers and ponds. Some bodies of water had been swollen by floods caused by heavy rains. The state government has announced compensation of 400,000 rupees ($4,784) for the families of each of the deceased. While deadly stampedes during religious events have occurred in India before, widespread drowning incidents during festivals are rare. This tragedy is a reminder of the dangers posed by natural disasters and the need for caution during celebrations and gatherings near bodies of water.
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Numerous children drown during Hindu festival celebrations in India
