Daijiworld Media Network - Patna
Patna, Oct 17: Four people, including three minors, drowned while bathing in the Son River near Teerthkaul village in Bihar’s Bhojpur district on Saturday, casting a pall of gloom over the village during the Navratri festivities.
The incident occurred under the jurisdiction of Sandesh police station. The deceased were identified as Akash Kumar (15), Prem Kumar (10), Siddhant Kumar (16) and Sudhir Kumar (25).
According to an official, the three minors had gone to the river to bathe when they entered deep water and began drowning. Sudhir Kumar reportedly jumped into the river in an attempt to rescue them but was also unable to return to safety.
The incident triggered panic among local residents, who alerted the police and administration. A search operation was subsequently launched with the assistance of rescue personnel and villagers.
Sandesh Station House Officer Sanjeev Kumar confirmed that four people had died in the incident. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) recovered all four bodies from the river, officials said.
The bodies are being taken to Ara for post-mortem examinations, while further legal procedures are underway.
Block Development Officer Binesh Kumar and SHO Sanjeev Kumar were present at the site following the incident. News of the tragedy drew a large crowd of residents and relatives to the riverbank.
The deaths have devastated the families of the victims and left Teerthkaul and neighbouring areas in mourning.
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers of bathing in rivers, where water depth and currents can be difficult to assess. Authorities have advised people to avoid entering deep or unfamiliar waters, particularly in areas where sand excavation may have altered the riverbed and created uneven depths.
The tragedy comes just days after 13 people died when a boat capsized in the Ganga River in Bihar’s Vaishali district. The victims were reportedly travelling across the river to attend a feast when the boat overturned. Seven people managed to swim to safety.