At least 46 people, including 37 children, drowned while celebrating a Hindu festival in eastern India, local authorities confirmed yesterday. The victims, who were marking the Jitiya Parv festival, drowned in separate incidents across Bihar state while bathing in rivers and ponds swollen by recent floods.
An official from the Bihar Disaster Management Department, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “People ignored dangerous water levels in rivers as well as ponds while bathing to celebrate the Jitiya Parv festival.” Despite warnings about the rising water levels due to recent flooding, many festival-goers ventured into rivers and ponds, leading to the tragedy.
The drownings occurred over Tuesday and spanned 15 districts in Bihar. Authorities are continuing efforts to recover three additional bodies. In response to the disaster, the Bihar state government announced compensation for the families of the victims.
This is not the first time the festival has been marred by tragedy. Last year, local media reported that 22 people drowned during a 24-hour period in Bihar, many while celebrating the same festival.
Flooding and heavy rains are common during India’s monsoon season, which lasts from June to September. While the monsoon is vital for agriculture and the livelihoods of millions of farmers, it often brings destruction in the form of landslides, flash floods, and other disasters. This year has been particularly deadly, with widespread flooding and landslides claiming lives across the country.
Bihar’s deadly festival drownings come just months after 116 people were crushed to death during an overcrowded religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh, marking one of the worst tragedies in over a decade. In July, the southern state of Kerala also experienced significant loss when more than 200 people died in landslides triggered by torrential rains.
Climate experts warn that the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, including erratic and intense monsoon rains, is linked to climate change. Studies, such as one conducted in 2021 by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, suggest that the South Asian monsoon has become stronger and more unpredictable over recent decades, intensifying its destructive impact.
Authorities across India are now grappling with the challenge of balancing the monsoon’s agricultural benefits with the growing risk of disasters during festival seasons and other public gatherings.