Bihar News : Eight minors, including seven girls, drowned while bathing in ponds in two different villages during the 'Jivitputrika' festival in Bihar's Aurangabad district on Wednesday. Four boys and girls drowned in two separate ponds at Kusha village in Madanpur block and Ithat village in Barun block. The victims have been identified as Pankaj Kumar (8), Sonali Kumari (13), Neelam Kumari (12), Rakhi Kumari (12), Anku Kumari (15), Nisha Kumari (12), Chulbul Kumari (13), Lajo Kumari (15), Rashi Kumari (18).

District Magistrate Srikant Shastri said the incidents occurred when the victims had gone to the ponds with their family members to take a holy bath on the occasion of the Jivitputrika festival, during which women observe a fast for well-being. He said the concerned officials immediately reached the spot and pulled them out of the ponds and rushed them to nearby hospitals, where doctors declared them dead.

The district administration and police officials are further investigating the matter. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed grief over the deaths and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each for the families of the deceased.

First incident

Four girls died by drowning in a pond while bathing in the village of Barun police station area of ​​Aurangabad. The villagers took out all the four girls and then immediately took them to Aurangabad Sadar Hospital where after examination, the doctors declared all four dead. After the accident, there was an uproar in the entire village, and a crowd of people gathered in Sadar Hospital. Nabinagar MLA Vijay Kumar Singh, who reached Sadar Hospital, called this incident very sad and said that he was very saddened by the incident.

Second incident

At the same time, in Kusha village of Madanpur police station area, 4 people including 1 boy and 3 girls drowned in a pond while bathing. The villagers took out all the four drowned children and then immediately took them to Madanpur CHC where after first aid they were referred to Aurangabad Sadar Hospital. After examination in Aurangabad Sadar Hospital, the doctors declared all four dead. The family members said that all of them had gone to bathe in the pond for the Jivhitputrika festival, during which this accident happened.