Tragic Drownings in Bihar on 'Jitiya' Festival Claim 46 Lives

A total of 46 people, including 37 children, drowned across various districts in Bihar during the 'Jitiya' festival. Search operations continue, and families of the deceased will receive Rs 4 lakh each as ex-gratia. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed his condolences and initiated immediate financial assistance.

A tragic series of drownings claimed the lives of 46 people, including 37 children, during the 'Jitiya' festival in Bihar over the past 24 hours. The incidents occurred in East and West Champaran, Aurangabad, Kaimur, Buxar, Siwan, Rohtas, Saran, Patna, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Gopalganj, and Arwal districts.

Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are conducting meticulous search operations across the affected regions. As per the Bihar Disaster Management Department, 43 bodies have been recovered thus far. An ex-gratia amount of Rs 4 lakh will be given to the next of kin of the deceased.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has extended his condolences to the affected families, which include those of seven women. He has also announced an immediate ex-gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh to each bereaved family. Payments have already been made to the families of eight victims, with the process ongoing for others.

(With inputs from agencies.)