Patna: What began as a festival of devotion and sunlight turned into a day of mourning across Bihar, as at least 102 people drowned during Chhath Puja celebrations, with several others still missing. The incidents, reported from rivers and ponds across the state, occurred during ritual bathing, cleaning of ghats, and offering prayers to the setting sun.
According to official reports, strong currents and deep waters swept away devotees at multiple locations. District administrations have confirmed deaths in Patna, Nalanda, Bhagalpur, Khagaria, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Jamui, Kaimur, Rohtas, Vaishali, and Muzaffarpur.
Patna Records Highest Toll
The state capital, Patna, witnessed the highest number of fatalities, with 13 deaths reported from Mokama, Bihta, Khagaul, Maner, and Naubatpur. Among the most tragic incidents was that of a brother and sister from Badpur village in Maranchi. Rocky Paswan (21) drowned while bathing, and his sister, Sapna Kumari (23), died shortly after hearing the news of her brother’s death. Villagers recall the scene with deep sorrow.
North Bihar: 26 Lives Lost
In North Bihar, 26 deaths were reported from Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, East Champaran, and Samastipur. Many of the victims were children and teenagers who had accompanied their families to perform rituals. Several slipped into deep waters while cleaning the ghats or participating in the Deepdan ceremony.
Kosi-Seemanchal and Eastern Bihar Hit Hard
The Kosi and Seemanchal regions also reported devastating losses, with 32 deaths across Saharsa, Madhepura, Supaul, Araria, Purnia, Banka, Khagaria, and Bhagalpur. Madhepura and Bhagalpur recorded seven deaths each, followed by Purnia (4), Saharsa (3), and Supaul (2).
Even after the evening Arghya, desperate families continued searching for missing relatives, with local divers and administrative teams scouring the waters late into the night.
Nalanda and Vaishali Tragedies
Nalanda and Vaishali districts also witnessed several drowning cases, claiming at least 15 lives. In Nalanda, three people, including two women, drowned while bathing in the Lokain River near Sipara village under Hilsa police station, while one person remains untraced. Vaishali reported eight fatalities—three in Raghopur and one each in Bidupur, Mahnar, Desari, and Bhagwanpur.
Elsewhere, two cousins drowned in a pond in Gopalganj’s Dubey Jigna village, and one young man died in Nadaura village, Gaya.
Questions Over Safety and Preparedness
The Bihar government had instructed district administrations to remain alert and strengthen security at ghats ahead of the festival. Yet, the large number of fatalities has raised questions over the adequacy of preventive measures.
Locals have blamed unsafe ghats, inadequate lighting, a shortage of lifeguards, and insufficient safety arrangements for the recurring tragedies. “A few boats and temporary barricades are not enough for a festival of this scale,” one grieving family member said.
Faith Amid Sorrow
As the Chhath lamps flickered along riverbanks, the atmosphere turned sombre. While fasting women sang hymns to the rising sun, others wept for loved ones who never returned. The same ghats that echoed with songs of faith and hope now stand in silence — a painful reminder that, for many, this Chhath ended not in celebration but in loss.
