Bihar: Three teenagers drown in Buxar's Thora River while bathing
Synopsis
Three schoolboys — aged 13, 14, and 15 — drowned in Bihar's Thora River on 18 June after wading into deep water while their friend watched helplessly from the bank, unable to swim. All three were declared dead on arrival at Sadar Hospital. The incident underscores a recurring summer tragedy pattern in rural Bihar.
Key Takeaways
Samar Kumar Sharma (13) , Krishna Ram (15) , and Dharmveer Kumar (14) drowned in the Thora River , Buxar , on 18 June .
The boys had gone to the river without informing their families to escape the summer heat.
Their companion Kalyan Sharma was unable to swim and ran to the village for help.
All three were pulled from the river by villagers and local divers but were declared dead on arrival at Sadar Hospital .
SHO Sonu Kumar of Itarhi police station confirmed the deaths and said post-mortem proceedings have been initiated.
Three teenagers drowned in the Thora River in Sarasati village, Buxar district, Bihar, on Thursday, 18 June, after they ventured into deeper water while bathing to escape the summer heat. The boys had left home without informing their families, according to local residents.
The Victims
The deceased have been identified as Samar Kumar Sharma (13), son of Ratnesh Kumar Sharma; Krishna Ram (15), son of Surendra Ram; and Dharmveer Kumar (14), son of Dharmendra Yadav. All three were residents of Sarasati village under the Itarhi police station area. Samar was a Class 6 student and the elder of two brothers; Krishna was in Class 9 and the youngest of five brothers; Dharmveer was also a Class 9 student.
How the Incident Unfolded
The four friends — Samar, Krishna, Dharmveer, and their companion Kalyan Sharma — had gone to the Thora River to cool off in the intense summer heat. While the three boys entered the water, Kalyan remained on the bank and began recording a video on his mobile phone.
According to Kalyan, the boys were bathing when they suddenly began struggling in deeper water. Initially believing they were playing, he quickly realised the situation had turned critical. Unable to swim, Kalyan ran to the village to alert residents and seek help.
Rescue and Recovery
Villagers and local divers responded swiftly, launching a rescue operation at the river. After considerable effort, all three boys were pulled from the water and rushed to Sadar Hospital. Doctors, however, declared all three dead upon arrival.
Sonu Kumar, Station House Officer (SHO) of Itarhi police station, confirmed that the children died due to drowning while bathing. He stated that all three bodies had been recovered and that post-mortem proceedings were initiated after doctors confirmed the deaths. Police have taken custody of the bodies and begun further legal proceedings.
Community in Grief
The tragedy has plunged Sarasati village into mourning. Grieving families and residents gathered at the hospital and the victims' homes in the aftermath. The deaths of three young students — the eldest just 15 years old — have left their families devastated. This incident is a grim reminder of the recurring danger of unsupervised river bathing during peak summer months across rural Bihar, where such tragedies are reported with troubling regularity each year.
Point of View
Almost always involving unsupervised bathing in swollen or deceptively deep rivers. The pattern is consistent: scorching heat, no adult supervision, no swimming ability, and no safety infrastructure near common bathing spots. The question authorities must answer is not just how these three boys died, but why the same preventable circumstances repeat every monsoon season without a structural response — no warning signage, no local lifeguard deployment, no community awareness programme that actually reaches rural villages like Sarasati.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the teenagers who drowned in Buxar, Bihar?
The three teenagers were Samar Kumar Sharma (13), Krishna Ram (15), and Dharmveer Kumar (14), all residents of Sarasati village in Buxar district, Bihar. They drowned in the Thora River on 18 June while bathing without adult supervision.
What happened at the Thora River in Buxar on 18 June?
Four friends went to the Thora River to bathe in the summer heat. Three of them — Samar, Krishna, and Dharmveer — entered the water and drowned after venturing into deeper sections. Their companion Kalyan Sharma, who could not swim, ran to alert villagers.
Were the boys rescued from the river?
Yes, villagers and local divers launched a rescue operation and pulled all three boys from the river. However, doctors at Sadar Hospital declared all three dead upon arrival.
What did police say about the incident?
SHO Sonu Kumar of Itarhi police station confirmed that the three children died due to drowning while bathing in the Thora River. He stated that all bodies were recovered and post-mortem proceedings initiated after doctors confirmed the deaths.
Why did the boys go to the river?
According to local residents, the four friends went to the Thora River to escape the intense summer heat. They reportedly left home without informing their families before the incident occurred.
