Patna, Aug 4 (NationPress) Tragically, five Kanwariyas lost their lives when a vehicle equipped with a DJ system overturned in a flooded river in the Shahkund police station area of Bhagalpur district in Bihar. This unfortunate event unfolded late Sunday night, transforming what was intended to be a night of spiritual devotion into a heartbreaking disaster for their families.

The incident took place around 11:30 p.m. near Belthu Mahato Sthan on the Shahkund-Bhagalpur main road. A group of 12 young devotees was en route to Sultanganj Ganga Ghat to collect holy water, a significant ritual performed before offering it at Jaithornath Dham in Amarpur on the last Monday of Sawan.

This DJ vehicle was loaded with devotees, a generator, and a sound system. Immediate rescue efforts were initiated by local villagers and the Shahkund police, who retrieved the victims from the water and rushed them to Shahkund Community Health Centre, where five individuals were pronounced dead.

According to Shahkund police station SHO Jaynath Sharan, factors such as heavy rain, darkness, and loud DJ music likely contributed to the accident. The driver reportedly failed to recognize the rain-swollen stream dangerously close to the road, driving directly into the fast-moving water, which led to the vehicle overturning and submerging.

“We have recovered the deceased and sent their bodies for post-mortem. An overhead electricity wire was also present at the location. The post-mortem report will determine if electrocution played a role in the incident,” Sharan stated.

All the deceased were school students from Purani Kherhi and Kaswa Kherhi villages under Kherhi Panchayat, located just half a kilometer from Shahkund market. They were identified as Santosh Kumar (20), son of Nimal Paswan, along with Manoj Kumar, Vikram Kumar, Ankush Kumar, and another Vikram Kumar.

The victims were students from High School Shahkund and part of a local Kanwar group engaged in the annual pilgrimage. Out of the 12 youths on board, three managed to escape by swimming, but they remain in a state of deep shock and have yet to provide statements.

The driver's whereabouts are currently unknown; some villagers allege he fled the scene, while others fear he may have drowned. A JCB machine has been deployed to assist in the search.

This devastating incident has ignited a broader discussion about the safety measures and the increasing prevalence of DJ-fitted vehicles during the Kanwar Yatra.