Sixteen killed in drowning incidents across Bihar on Dussehra

Sixteen people drowned across Bihar on the first day of Dussehra festival, according to police officials monitoring the incidents. The deaths underscore persistent water safety concerns during major festivals when families and communities gather near bodies of water for celebrations and rituals.

Most of the drowning cases were reported from Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, and Sitamarhi districts in northern Bihar. Police officials have attributed the incidents to inadequate safety measures and overcrowding at traditional bathing sites and water bodies frequented during Dussehra observances.

The tragic incidents have prompted local authorities to issue fresh safety advisories to residents, urging caution around water bodies during festival celebrations. Community leaders have called for enhanced vigilance and the deployment of safety personnel at high-risk water sites during major religious occasions.

Bihar has historically recorded a spike in water-related fatalities during major festivals when large numbers of people congregate near rivers, ponds, and water bodies for ceremonial purposes.