Six children drown in Bhagalpur during Karma-Dharma festival bath
Synopsis
Six children aged 12 to 14 drowned in a waterlogged agricultural field in Bhagalpur, Bihar, while gathering for a ritual bath ahead of the Karma-Dharma festival. One child slipped into deep water; the others rushed to help and were all pulled under by the marshy, flooded terrain. All six were declared dead on arrival at the health centre.
Key Takeaways
Six children aged between 12 and 14 drowned in Bhagalpur district, Bihar on 21 September 2025 .
The incident occurred around 10 am in the Narayanpur Bahiyar area under Sultanganj police station limits.
The children had gone for a ritual bath ahead of the Karma-Dharma festival when the tragedy struck.
Deep water accumulation from recent rainfall and a rise in the Ganga river level had made the agricultural field dangerous.
All six children were declared dead on arrival at the Community Health Centre .
Bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination ; police and administrative officials are conducting further formalities.
Six children drowned in Bhagalpur district, Bihar, on the morning of Monday, 21 September 2025, after they slipped into a waterlogged agricultural field while taking a ritual bath ahead of the Karma-Dharma festival, officials confirmed. All six were declared dead on arrival at the local health centre, making it one of the most tragic mass drowning incidents in the district this year.
How the Tragedy Unfolded
The incident occurred around 10 am in the Narayanpur Bahiyar area under the Ajgaivinath Dham block of Sultanganj police station limits. According to police, the children had gathered at the site for a customary pre-festival ritual bath when one child reportedly slipped into a deeper section of the waterbody. The others, in an attempt to rescue their companion, entered the water without realising the depth of the field or the unstable, marshy terrain beneath — leading to all six drowning.
Local residents explained that the agricultural fields had accumulated significantly deep water owing to recent heavy rainfall and a rise in the Ganga river's water level in the area.
The Victims
The six children have been identified as Puja Kumari (13), daughter of Puran Mandal; Rahul Kumar (14); Vikas Kumar (13), son of Ranjan Kumar; Ayush Kumar (12), son of Vinod Mandal; Meenakshi Kumari (12), also known as Minki, daughter of Valmiki Mandal; and Jyoti Kumari (14), daughter of Dhananjay Mandal. Five of the six children belonged to Bishnu Tola in Ward 27 of the Nagar Parishad area, while Jyoti was a resident of Ranchdidipur village.
Rescue and Medical Response
As news of the incident spread through the locality, family members and villagers rushed to the spot. Local youths entered the waterlogged field and retrieved all six children from the water. The children were immediately transported to the Community Health Centre, where doctors declared all of them dead on arrival. Police and district administrative officials reached the site shortly after being informed.
Investigation and Next Steps
The bodies of all six children have been sent for post-mortem examination, and further legal formalities are underway, according to officials. The incident has plunged the affected families and the wider locality into deep grief, coming as it did on the eve of the Karma-Dharma festival — a celebration typically associated with joy and communal ritual. This comes amid recurring concerns about the hazards posed by flood-inundated agricultural land in low-lying districts of Bihar during the monsoon season, where unmarked water accumulation frequently proves fatal, particularly for children.
Point of View
Where inundated agricultural fields become unmarked death traps for children during festive rituals. The Karma-Dharma festival brings thousands of young people to water bodies across the state, yet warnings and safety measures around flooded farmland remain largely absent. The loss of six children in a single incident should prompt a hard look at district-level disaster preparedness during monsoon festivals, not just post-incident legal formalities. Until local administrations treat waterlogged fields as active hazards requiring demarcation and supervision during festivals, such preventable deaths will recur.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where and when did the Bhagalpur children drowning incident occur?
The drowning occurred on Monday, 21 September 2025, at approximately 10 am in the Narayanpur Bahiyar area under the Ajgaivinath Dham block of Sultanganj police station in Bhagalpur district, Bihar.
Why were the children at a waterlogged field?
The children had gathered at the site to perform a ritual bath as part of preparations for the Karma-Dharma festival, a customary practice in the region. The agricultural field had accumulated deep water due to recent rainfall and a rise in the Ganga river's water level.
Who are the six children who drowned?
The victims are Puja Kumari (13), Rahul Kumar (14), Vikas Kumar (13), Ayush Kumar (12), Meenakshi Kumari (12), and Jyoti Kumari (14). Five were residents of Bishnu Tola in Ward 27 of the Nagar Parishad area, and one — Jyoti Kumari — was from Ranchdidipur village.
What is the Karma-Dharma festival?
Karma-Dharma is a traditional festival observed primarily in Bihar, Jharkhand, and parts of West Bengal, during which participants — often young people — take ritual baths in rivers or water bodies as part of worship. It is commonly associated with prayers for the well-being of siblings and family members.
What action has been taken after the drowning?
Police and district administrative officials reached the site after being informed. The bodies of all six children have been sent for post-mortem examination, and further legal formalities are underway, according to officials.
