At least 43 people, including 37 children drowned and three others went missing while taking holy dips in rivers and ponds in separate incidents during the ‘Jivitputrika’ festival in Bihar, the State Government said on Thursday. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar condoled the deaths and announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased.

The incidents occurred in 15 districts of the state during the festival held on Wednesday. During the ‘Jivitputrika’ festival, women fast for the well-being of their children and both

take holy dips.

“A total of 43 bodies have been recovered so far. Further search operation is on,” a statement issued by the Disaster Management Department (DMD) said.

The process of providing the ex gratia has begun and family members of eight deceased have already received it, the statement said.

“The incidents of drowning were reported from East and West Champaran, Nalanda, Aurangabad, Kaimur, Buxar, Siwan, Rohtas, Saran, Patna, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Gopalganj and Arwal districts.

The DMD has pressed several teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) for search and rescue operations.

Eight children drowned in Aurangabad district - four at Itahat village under Baruna police station area and another four at Kushaha village of Madanpur police station.

According to reports from Kaimur, seven minors drowned in Bhabhua and Mohania police station areas when they were taking bath in the Durgawati river and a pond, respectively.

Four incidents of drowning were reported on Wednesday evening from Amnabad village under Bihta police station area of rural Patna and five persons, including two boys, drowned in Daudpur, Manjhi, Taraiya and Marhaura police station areas of Saran district.

“The incidents took place when the victims, along with their family members, went for a holy dip in the water bodies,” Aurangabad District Magistrate Srikant Shastri said.