46 People, Including 37 Children, Drown During Hindu Festival In India

46 People, Including 37 Children, Drown During Hindu Festival In India

At least 46 people, including 37 children, tragically drowned while participating in a Hindu festival in eastern India, according to an official from Bihar’s Disaster Management Department (DMD) on Thursday.

The incidents occurred across Bihar state on Tuesday and Wednesday as devotees were bathing in rivers and ponds to celebrate the Jitiya Parv festival, a Hindu ritual observed by mothers for the welfare of their children. Despite warnings about dangerously high water levels due to recent flooding, many devotees entered the swollen waters.

Authorities are still working to recover three additional bodies, the official said.