Six children drown in Bihar flood: Bhagalpur tragedy amid 40 lakh displaced
Synopsis
Six children who had gone to pluck flowers for puja never returned — swept away by floodwaters near a quiet village in Bihar's Bhagalpur district. The tragedy is a human face on a crisis that has already displaced over 40 lakh people across 16 districts, with the Ganga still rising and political pressure mounting for a national disaster declaration.
Key Takeaways
Six children drowned in floodwaters near Tareta village, Sultanaganj block, Bhagalpur on 21 September 2026 .
The children, reportedly from Dudhailla village , had entered the water to pluck flowers for a puja when they lost their balance.
Bodies of all six were recovered and sent to Sultanaganj Hospital for post-mortem at Bhagalpur .
Bihar floods have affected approximately 40.72 lakh people across 16 districts as of 20 September .
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and BJP state President Nitin Nabin have donated to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund ; BJP contributed ₹51 lakh .
Tejashwi Yadav has demanded ₹15,000 relief per farmer and a national disaster declaration for Bihar.
Six children drowned on Monday, 21 September 2026, after they were swept away while wading in floodwaters near Tareta village in the Sultanaganj block of Bhagalpur district, Bihar, officials confirmed. The bodies of all six were recovered and taken to Sultanaganj Hospital, with arrangements made for post-mortem examination at Bhagalpur. The children were reportedly residents of Dudhailla village.
How the Tragedy Unfolded
According to local residents, the children had ventured into the floodwaters near a gas warehouse close to Tareta village under Bhirkhurd panchayat to pluck flowers for a puja. A relative of one of the deceased said: 'The children had gone to pluck flowers for puja. They did not know that it was deep. While trying to hold on to each other, they all fell in.'
Another relative recalled the last moments before the children left home: 'They left home at 9 a.m. and said they were going. They asked me for two rupees... I gave it to them. Three girls went together.' Residents launched a search operation and alerted the Sultanaganj police and the local Circle Officer.
Bihar Floods: Scale of the Crisis
The drowning comes as Bihar grapples with one of its worst flood seasons in recent years. According to the state Disaster Management Department, approximately 40.72 lakh people across 676 gram panchayats in 88 blocks of 16 districts had been affected as of 20 September. Rising water levels in the Ganga and other rivers continue to inundate low-lying areas across the state.
State authorities are conducting relief and rescue operations, and community kitchens have been set up at multiple locations to provide food to displaced residents.
Political Response and Relief Contributions
On 19 September, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary donated one month's salary to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund in support of flood-affected families. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state President Nitin Nabin contributed three months' salary to the fund and also handed over ₹51 lakh on behalf of the party. Chief Minister Choudhary publicly thanked NDA leaders, MLAs, MPs, and ministers who had contributed their salaries. Several organisations have also extended financial assistance.
Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday urged both the Centre and the Bihar government to provide immediate financial assistance of ₹15,000 each to flood- and drought-hit farmers, and to declare the situation in the state a national disaster.
What Happens Next
Investigations by Sultanaganj police are underway. Post-mortem examinations are expected to confirm the cause of death. With the Ganga and its tributaries still running above danger levels, authorities have warned of continued flood risk in low-lying districts over the coming days, making the safety of children near water bodies an urgent concern.
Point of View
The question is not whether the state is in crisis but whether the Centre's response matches the scale. Tejashwi Yadav's demand for a national disaster declaration deserves a substantive answer, not just a political one. Bihar's flood vulnerability is structural and annual; relief funds and salary donations, however sincere, are not a substitute for long-term river management and early-warning systems that keep children away from dangerous water.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did six children drown in Bhagalpur, Bihar?
The six children drowned on 21 September 2026 after entering floodwaters near Tareta village in Bhagalpur's Sultanaganj block to pluck flowers for a puja. According to a relative, they did not realise how deep the water was and fell in while trying to hold on to each other.
How many people have been affected by Bihar floods in 2026?
As of 20 September 2026, approximately 40.72 lakh people across 676 gram panchayats in 88 blocks of 16 districts had been affected, according to the state Disaster Management Department. Rising water levels in the Ganga and other rivers continue to worsen the situation.
What relief measures has the Bihar government announced for flood victims?
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary donated one month's salary to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund on 19 September. BJP state President Nitin Nabin contributed three months' salary, and the party handed over ₹51 lakh to the fund. Community kitchens and rescue operations are ongoing across affected districts.
What has the Opposition demanded regarding Bihar floods?
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has urged the Centre and the Bihar government to provide ₹15,000 in immediate financial assistance to each flood- and drought-hit farmer and to declare Bihar's flood situation a national disaster.
Where did the Bhagalpur child drowning incident occur?
The incident occurred near a gas warehouse close to Tareta village under Bhirkhurd panchayat in the Sultanaganj block of Bhagalpur district, Bihar. The children were reportedly residents of Dudhailla village.
