Patna: The dawn that was meant to bring hope and gratitude on the final day of Chhath Puja descended into grief for many families across Bihar. As lakhs of devotees gathered at ghats and riverbanks to offer prayers to the rising Sun, tragic accidents in multiple districts claimed the lives of at least 22 people, including several children.
Reports from Khagaria, Nalanda, Purnia, Bhagalpur, and Patna revealed a grim picture — families preparing for rituals were instead plunged into mourning as drownings and health emergencies struck amid the celebrations.
Patna: Three Lives Lost During Arghya
In Patna’s Barh subdivision, three people — including a woman observing the Chhath fast — lost their lives in separate incidents. Two young men drowned in the Ganga River after one slipped into deep water and the others jumped in to save him. Despite frantic rescue efforts, both perished.
In another incident at Jamunichak, a woman on her way to the ghat collapsed due to a heart attack. Her family rushed her to Barh Sub-Divisional Hospital, but doctors declared her dead on arrival.
Khagaria: Six Children Drown in Separate Incidents
The Khagaria district witnessed one of the most devastating tragedies of this Chhath. In Rasounk village, four children drowned simultaneously while bathing near the riverbank. Locals and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel launched an immediate search for their bodies.
In another incident, eight-year-old Nandini Kumari drowned in the Kosi River in Mansi police station area after drifting into deep water while helping her family construct a temporary ghat. Divers later recovered her body.
Nalanda: Seven Deaths Reported Across Ghats
Nalanda district, home to ancient spiritual traditions, also witnessed multiple fatalities. Seven people died in separate incidents at Chhath ghats across different police jurisdictions.
Among them was 10-year-old Kumar Sawant, who drowned while bathing at Balwachak Chhath Ghat in Nagarnausa. Another tragedy unfolded in Silav, where 14-year-old Shambhu Kumar went missing after being swept away in the Panchane River. Local divers continued their search late into the evening.
Purnia: Brothers Drown After Arghya
In Purnia, the festive air at Tatma Toli Chhath Pokhar Ghat turned tragic after two brothers, Satyam and Shivam, drowned while bathing following the evening Arghya. Locals pulled them out of the pond and rushed them to Sadar Hospital, where doctors pronounced both dead.
Bhagalpur: Four Children Die During Ritual Bath
A similar tragedy occurred in Bhagalpur’s Smilepur police station area, where four children drowned while bathing in the river during the evening offering to the setting Sun. The news spread rapidly, and the ghats that had echoed with Chhath songs soon fell silent.
Across Bihar, district administrations and disaster response teams were mobilised to handle rescue operations and post-incident support. Officials expressed deep sorrow and appealed for stricter safety measures around ghats in future festivals.
Despite elaborate arrangements — including barricading, lighting, and police deployment — several ghats lacked safety infrastructure such as ropes, signage, and proper demarcation of deep-water zones.
“Every year, we try to make the arrangements better,” said an official from Khagaria district administration, “but crowd management during Chhath remains a challenge, especially in rural areas where families perform rituals at local ponds and rivers.”
For families who lost loved ones, the morning Arghya — meant to celebrate life and renewal — became a solemn prayer for peace instead.
