While bathing in rivers and ponds inundated by recent rains, at least 46 persons—the most of them children—have perished during the celebration of a Hindu religious festival that is observed by millions of people in India.
Authorities in the eastern state of Bihar reported on Thursday that 37 children and seven women were among the dead, who perished in sporadic instances spread over 15 districts.
Jivitputrika Vrat is an annual festival observed by devotees, when mothers fast for a full day and pray for the health of their offspring. Additionally, they bathe at the ponds and rivers in their neighborhood, often with the help of their kids.
The state government of Bihar declared that each deceased person's family will receive 400,000 rupees (US$4,784) in compensation. During India's main religious festivals, which draw millions of followers to pilgrimage destinations, deadly occurrences frequently occur at places of worship. In Bihar, 22 people drowned in a 24-hour span last year, most of them were celebrating the same event, according to local media.
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The greatest such catastrophe in nearly ten years occurred in July when at least 116 persons were crushed to death during an overcrowded Hindu religious gathering in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Almost a week later than usual, India's monsoon rains began to withdraw from the northwest of the nation earlier this week, according to the government-run India Meteorological Department.
According to experts, climate change is causing an increase in extreme weather occurrences globally, with development projects, deforestation, and damming in India compounding the human cost.
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