What's happened
The Jivitputrika Vrat festival in Bihar has turned tragic as 44 people, including 37 children, drowned during ritual bathing amid swollen water bodies from heavy monsoon rains. The state government has announced compensation for the victims' families, but safety measures during the festival remain unclear.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, 'The dead include 37 children and seven women who drowned in the eastern state of Bihar in scattered incidents across 15 districts.' The Independent highlights that 'the state has announced ₹400,000 (US$4,784) as compensation for the families of each of the deceased.' Meanwhile, the New York Times notes that 'it was unclear on Thursday what safety measures had been taken in Bihar,' indicating a lack of preparedness for such a large-scale event. These contrasting perspectives underscore the urgent need for improved safety protocols during religious festivals in India.
How we got here
The Jivitputrika Vrat festival, celebrated primarily in northern India, involves women fasting and praying for their children's well-being. This year's festival coincided with heavy monsoon rains, leading to swollen rivers and increased drowning incidents.
More on these topics
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Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the third-largest state by population and twelfth-largest by territory, with an area of 94,163 km².
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Kerala is a state on the southwestern Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile states of Travancore-Cochin and Madras.
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India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the second-most populous country, the seventh-largest country by land area, and the most populous democracy in the world.