Eight minors, including seven girls, drowned while taking bath in ponds in two different villages in Bihar's Aurangabad district during 'Jivitputrika' festival on Wednesday, officials said.
Four people each drowned in two separate ponds in Kushaha village in Madanpur block and Itahat village in Barun block.
The victims have been identified as Pankaj Kumar (8), Sonali Kumari (13), Nilam Kumari (12), Rakhi Kumari (12), Anku Kumari (15), Nisha Kumari (12), Chulbul Kumari (13), Lazo Kumari (15), Rashi Kumari (18).
Speaking to PTI, District Magistrate Srikant Shastri said, "The incidents took place when the victims along with their family members went to the ponds to take a holy bath on the occasion of 'Jivitputrika' festival, during which women fast for the well-being of their children." "Officials concerned immediately reached the spots and retrieved them from the ponds and took them to the nearest hospitals, where doctors declared them dead," he said.
Officials of the district administration and police are further examining the matter.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar condoled the deaths and announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh each for the next of families of those who died.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
"Hezbollah Doesn't Want You To Watch This Video": Israel Defence Forces "Will Speak In Action, Not Words": Netanyahu Defiant Over Lebanon America's Big Corporate Divide As US Election Comes Knocking On The Door Harris Leads Trump In Several Key Battleground States, Polls Say Microplastics In Urinary Tract Highlight Urgent Water Safety Issues: Study DU Students Union Polls Today, Court Halts Counting Till Defacement Removed Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.