Six children drown in Bihar flood: Bhagalpur tragedy amid 40 lakh affected
Synopsis
Six children drowned in floodwaters in Bihar’s Bhagalpur on 21 September after entering an inundated area near Tareta village to pluck flowers for puja. The deaths add a human face to a flood crisis that has already displaced over 40.72 lakh people across 16 districts, with the opposition calling for a national disaster declaration.
Key Takeaways
Six children from Dudhailla village drowned in floodwaters near Tareta village , Bhagalpur , on 21 September 2026 .
The children had reportedly gone to pluck flowers for a puja when they lost their balance in the floodwaters.
Bodies were recovered and sent to Sultanaganj Hospital ; a post-mortem was arranged in Bhagalpur .
Bihar’s floods have affected 40.72 lakh people across 676 gram panchayats in 16 districts as of 20 September .
BJP handed over ₹51 lakh to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund ; CM Samrat Choudhary donated one month’s salary on 19 September .
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav demanded ₹15,000 assistance per affected farmer and a national disaster declaration.
Six children drowned in floodwaters in the Sultanaganj block area of Bhagalpur district, Bihar, on 21 September 2026, officials confirmed. The children, reportedly residents of Dudhailla village, had ventured into the swollen waters near a gas warehouse close to Tareta village under Bhirkhurd panchayat — and did not return.
How the Tragedy Unfolded
According to local residents, the children had gone to pluck flowers for a puja when they entered the floodwaters and lost their footing. A relative of one of the deceased said: “The children had gone to pluck flowers for puja. They did not know that it (the water) 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.” Local residents launched a search operation immediately and alerted the Sultanaganj police and the Circle Officer.
Recovery and Post-Mortem
The bodies of all six children were subsequently recovered and taken to Sultanaganj Hospital. Arrangements were being made to transport the bodies to Bhagalpur for a post-mortem examination, officials said. No further details on the identities or ages of the children were immediately available.
Bihar Floods: Scale of the Crisis
The drowning comes against the backdrop of a worsening flood situation across the state. 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, with rising water levels in the Ganga and other rivers continuing to threaten low-lying areas. Community kitchens have been set up at several locations to provide food to displaced residents.
This is not the first such fatality during the ongoing flood season. The tragedy underscores the particular vulnerability of children in flood-prone villages, where familiarity with local water bodies can prove dangerously deceptive when rivers and fields overflow.
Political Response and Relief Efforts
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on 19 September donated one month’s salary to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to support affected families. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state President Nitin Nabin contributed three months’ salary to the fund, and the party separately handed over ₹51 lakh to the Relief Fund. Choudhary acknowledged contributions from NDA leaders, MLAs, MPs, and ministers.
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 called for the situation to be declared a national disaster.
What Comes Next
Relief and rescue operations are continuing across affected districts. With the Ganga still running high and the flood season not yet over, authorities face sustained pressure to protect vulnerable communities — particularly children and the elderly in remote panchayats where official warnings may not reach in time.
Point of View
And awareness campaigns rarely penetrate the last mile. The scale of the crisis — over 40 lakh people affected across 16 districts — points to a disaster management system that is competent at relief distribution but still reactive rather than preventive. Tejashwi Yadav’s demand for a national disaster declaration is politically pointed, but it also raises a legitimate question: at what threshold does a recurring, state-wide flood emergency stop being a seasonal event and start demanding a different category of federal response?
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the six children drown in Bihar?
The six children drowned in floodwaters near a gas warehouse close to Tareta village under Bhirkhurd panchayat in the Sultanaganj block of Bhagalpur district, Bihar, on 21 September 2026. The children were reportedly residents of Dudhailla village and had gone to pluck flowers for a puja.
How did the drowning incident happen?
According to relatives, the children entered the floodwaters without realising how deep they were. A relative said they lost their balance and, while trying to hold on to each other, all fell in. Local residents discovered what had happened and launched a search operation before alerting police.
How severe is the flood situation in Bihar right now?
As of 20 September 2026, approximately 40.72 lakh people across 676 gram panchayats in 88 blocks of 16 districts were affected by floods, according to the state Disaster Management Department. Rising water levels in the Ganga and other rivers continue to threaten additional areas.
What relief measures has the Bihar government taken?
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary donated one month’s salary to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund on 19 September. The BJP state unit handed over ₹51 lakh to the fund, and state relief and rescue operations, including community kitchens for displaced residents, are ongoing across affected districts.
What has the opposition demanded over the Bihar floods?
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday urged the Centre and the Bihar government to provide ₹15,000 each to flood- and drought-affected farmers and to formally declare the situation a national disaster, arguing that the scale of displacement and agricultural damage warrants federal intervention.
