5 girls feared drowned in Ganga at Bihar's Munger, one body recovered
Synopsis
Five girls — four sisters and their cousin — were swept away by strong Ganga currents at Munger's Bakchapra Ghat on Wednesday morning. One body has been recovered; four remain missing. Rising seasonal water levels made the ghat treacherous, and the SDRF is still searching.
Key Takeaways
Five girls — Sangeeta Kumari , Binita Kumari , Sandhya Kumari , Sonam Kumari , and Hina Kumari — were swept away at Bakchapra Ganga Ghat , Munger , on 24 June .
Four of the girls were sisters; the fifth was their cousin; all were students at Intermediate and school levels.
The body of Sangeeta Kumari was recovered by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) ; four girls remain missing .
Rising seasonal water levels had strengthened the Ganga's current, making the ghat more dangerous than usual.
Police and district officials have urged the public to avoid deep water and supervise minors near rivers and ghats.
Five girls are feared drowned in the Ganga River in Munger district, Bihar, after being swept away by strong currents while bathing at a ghat on Wednesday morning, 24 June. The body of one of the five, Sangeeta Kumari, has been recovered; four others remain missing as search operations continue.
What Happened at Bakchapra Ghat
The incident took place at Bakchapra Ganga Ghat under the Vasudevpur police station area. The five girls — Sangeeta Kumari, Binita Kumari, Sandhya Kumari, Sonam Kumari, and Hina Kumari — had gone to the ghat to bathe and collect holy water when they were pulled into deeper water by the river's current.
According to officials, four of the girls were sisters and the fifth was their cousin. Eyewitnesses said the group entered the river together but were rapidly dragged toward deeper stretches. Attempts by bystanders to rescue them reportedly failed as the current intensified.
Rescue and Recovery Operations
Police teams from Vasudevpur police station reached the site shortly after the alarm was raised. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local divers were deployed, using boats and diving teams to comb the river. The SDRF managed to recover the body of Sangeeta Kumari; the remaining four girls are still missing. Authorities have stated that search efforts will continue until all missing persons are traced.
Rising Water Levels Heightened the Risk
Locals pointed out that the Ganga's water level has risen due to seasonal conditions, making currents stronger and bathing spots significantly more hazardous. Family members identified the girls as students enrolled at Intermediate and school levels. This comes amid a period when monsoon-linked water surges routinely increase drowning risks at riverine ghats across Bihar.
Panic and Official Advisory
News of the incident drew large crowds to the riverbank, triggering panic and distress among residents. The atmosphere in the area remains tense as families await word on the four missing girls. Police and district officials have urged the public to avoid entering deep water and to closely supervise children and teenagers near rivers and ghats, particularly during periods of elevated water levels.
Point of View
Drowning incidents at Bihar's riverine ghats spike — yet ghat safety infrastructure and warning systems remain largely absent. The fact that bystander rescue attempts failed and the SDRF had to be mobilised underscores a persistent gap between the density of pilgrimage and bathing ghats along the Ganga and the emergency-response capacity stationed near them. Four families are still waiting for news, and that wait is itself an indictment of how slowly the state moves to pre-position rescue assets before the monsoon surge, not after.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where and when did the Munger Ganga drowning incident occur?
The incident occurred on Wednesday morning, 24 June, at Bakchapra Ganga Ghat under the Vasudevpur police station area in Munger district, Bihar. The five girls were swept away by strong currents while bathing and collecting holy water.
Who are the five girls feared drowned in the Ganga at Munger?
The five girls are Sangeeta Kumari, Binita Kumari, Sandhya Kumari, Sonam Kumari, and Hina Kumari. According to officials, four were sisters and the fifth was their cousin; all were students at Intermediate and school levels.
Has any body been recovered from the Ganga in Munger?
Yes, the body of Sangeeta Kumari was recovered by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). The remaining four girls — Binita Kumari, Sandhya Kumari, Sonam Kumari, and Hina Kumari — are still missing as of the latest update.
Why did the drowning happen at Bakchapra Ghat?
Locals said the Ganga's water level had risen due to seasonal monsoon conditions, significantly strengthening the current and making bathing spots more hazardous. Eyewitnesses reported that the girls were quickly pulled into deeper water before bystanders could intervene.
What is the current status of the rescue operation?
The SDRF, local divers, and police teams are conducting an ongoing search using boats and diving equipment. Authorities have stated that operations will continue until all missing persons are traced. Police have also issued a public advisory urging people to avoid deep water near rivers and ghats.
