In eastern India, an official from the local government told AFP on Thursday that at least 46 people—37 of them children—have died while participating in a Hindu event.
The victims, who were taking customary baths in ponds and rivers flooded by recent flooding, perished in two different events in the state of Bihar, a representative from the Bihar Disaster Management Department told AFP.
“To celebrate this festival, people ignored the danger water levels in rivers and ponds while bathing,” the official, who wished to remain anonymous because he was not authorized to speak to the media, added.
As devotees celebrated the Hindu festival of “Jitiya Parv,” which mothers observe for the well-being of their children, drownings happened throughout 15 districts of the state of Bihar on Tuesday.
The official stated that efforts were underway to retrieve three other bodies.
He claimed that each victim’s family had received compensation from the state government.
Major religious festivals in India, the largest of which attract millions of pilgrims to sacred locations, sometimes result in deadly occurrences at places of worship.
Every year, during the monsoon season, India experiences flash floods and deluges of rain.
Millions of farmers rely on agriculture and, consequently, the monsoon for their lives.
