Patna: Tragedy struck on the first day of Chhath Puja in Patna as three young men from the same family drowned in the Ganga River on Friday, the day of Nahay Khay, marking the beginning of the four-day festival.
The incident occurred at Bankatpur Golindpur Ghat under the Khusrupur police station area. According to local reports, the victims — two brothers and their nephew — had gone to the riverbank to collect Ganga water for rituals at their homes.
Police said one of the young men slipped into the water, and when the others tried to rescue him, they too were swept away by the strong current. All three drowned before help could arrive.
Preliminary information suggests the trio had been cleaning the ghat in preparation for the festival. After finishing, they entered the river to bathe, but the current proved too powerful.
Following the incident, teams from the District Disaster Response Force (DDRF) and local divers rushed to the spot and launched a search operation. After several hours of effort, the bodies were recovered from the river.
The deceased were identified as Saurav Kumar (22), Sonu Kumar (22), and Guddu Kumar (19), all residents of Ward 17, West Govindpur. Officials said Chhath Puja was being observed at all three of their homes.
A pall of grief has descended on the neighbourhood, where mourning replaced celebration.
Confirming the incident, Khusrupur police station in-charge said, “Three young men drowned in the Ganga River. Their bodies have been recovered and taken to Fatuha Hospital, where doctors declared them dead. The bodies have been sent to Patna for postmortem.”
The tragedy has once again highlighted the dangers faced by devotees and volunteers preparing ghats along the Ganga during Chhath Puja, when thousands gather near the river for prayers and rituals.
