The recent observance of the Hindu festival Jivitputrika Vrat in north India has turned tragic, with at least 46 people, predominantly children, reported to have drowned while bathing in rivers and ponds swollen by floods. Among the deceased, 37 were children, and seven were women, who drowned in various incidents across 15 districts in Bihar on Wednesday, according to the state’s disaster management department.
The flooding, caused by heavy rains, created hazardous conditions in local water bodies, leading to these unfortunate incidents. The festival involves women fasting for 24 hours and praying for the well-being of their children, often culminating in communal bathing in nearby rivers and ponds.
In response to this tragedy, the Bihar state government announced compensation of 400,000 rupees (approximately Ksh. 616,888) for the families of each victim. While India has witnessed deadly stampedes during religious events in the past, widespread drowning incidents during festivals are relatively rare.
