The festival of ‘Jivitputrika’ is celebrated over three days across the country, especially in Bihar. In which, people take a holy dip in the river. The festivities, however, have turned grim as over 40 people died by drowning on the first day of the festival, i.e. September 25 .

In Aurangabad alone, 10 people have lost their lives during the holy dip. Apart from this, reports of drowning have been reported from Champaran, Saran, Siwan, Patna, Rohtas, Arwal, and Kaimur.

The Bihar government has taken note of these accidents and has initiated an inquiry. People have also been advised to take precautions while in the water bodies.

In the villages of Itahat and Kusha, eight children sadly lost their lives. The victims have been identified as Pankaj Kumar (8), Sonali Kumari (13), Neelam Kumari (12), Rakhi Kumari (12), Anku Kumari (15), Nisha Kumari (12), Chulbul Kumari (13), and Lajo Kumari (15).

In the Kalyanpur area of East Champaran, 8-year-old Shailesh Kumar and 5-year-old Anshu Priya drowned. Three members of the same family, Ranjit Sah, his wife Ranjita Devi (35), and their 12-year-old daughter Rajnandani Kumari, from Parsauni village, also drowned.

A 10-year-old boy from Vishunpura village in the Harsiddhi area also drowned. In Parsauni village, 10-year-old Shivam Kumar and 11-year-old Vivek Kumar drowned.

In Saran district, 12-year-old Shobha Kumari from Sabdara village passed away due to drowning. Golu Kumar (13) from Bharwalia village in Daudpur also drowned. Shubham Yadav, son of village chief Yadav from Pakwalia village in Siwan district, drowned, too. Anjali Kumari from Amanabad in Patna district also lost her life.

In Rohtas district, an 8-year-old child drowned in a village near Dinara. An 8-year-old girl also drowned in a lake near Bakhtari Surya Mandir. In Kaimur district, 10-year-old Rohan Bind died by drowning in Tarhani village.