On a somber Sunday evening, the Ganga river in Patna became the scene of multiple tragic drowning incidents, claiming the lives of several individuals, predominantly minors. These widespread accidents occurred across various ghats in the Digha police station area, Maner, and Athamalgola, prompting urgent search and rescue operations. Families are mourning their lost loved ones, while authorities grapple with the aftermath, underscoring critical safety concerns associated with river bathing in the region.

What Happened?

The Digha police station area witnessed a significant concentration of these tragedies, with four people, including three minors and a young man, drowning across three different ghats. At Patipul Ghat, 18-year-old Krishna alias Kisu Kumar from Sultanpur, Danapur, tragically drowned while attempting to rescue a friend, who also subsequently went missing in the river. Another incident at JP Setu Ghat saw 15-year-old Aditya Kumar alias Prince Kumar from Purandarpur, Jakkanpur, lose his life while bathing; his body was later recovered. The third incident at Minar Ghat (Janardan Ghat) involved 13-year-old Karan Kumar from New Punaichak, SK Puri, who disappeared into the river with his family, his whereabouts still unknown.

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team has recovered two bodies from these Digha incidents, but the search continues for the two missing individuals. Local residents at Digha Ghat expressed frustration and protested over perceived delays in rescue operations. Further tragedies unfolded in Maner near Goraiya Sthan, where three children began to drown during a Ganga bath after Sunday prayers. While villagers bravely saved Bunty and Vicky, 12-year-old Akash Kumar from Nagwan, Maner, vanished in the river. Local divers conducted extensive searches but found no trace of him. Additionally, in the Athamalgola police station area, 14-year-old Saurabh Kumar from Roopas Kamrapar village drowned at Sniniya Ghat while bathing with a friend; his body was recovered and handed over to his family following a post-mortem examination.

Key Highlights

Multiple drowning incidents involving several minors and a youth occurred in the Ganga river across Patna on Sunday.
Four individuals, including three minors, drowned in the Digha police station area across three separate ghats.
The bodies of Krishna alias Kisu Kumar (18) and Aditya Kumar alias Prince Kumar (15) were recovered from Digha.
Two individuals, a minor friend of Krishna and 13-year-old Karan Kumar, remain missing in the Digha incidents, with SDRF teams actively searching.
In Maner, 12-year-old Akash Kumar is missing after drowning, though two other children were rescued by quick-thinking villagers.
Another 14-year-old, Saurabh Kumar, tragically drowned at Sniniya Ghat in Athamalgola, with his body subsequently recovered.
Public protests erupted at Digha Ghat, criticizing the perceived delays in response and rescue operations.

Why Does This Matter?

These repeated tragedies along the Ganga river serve as a grim reminder of the inherent dangers associated with bathing in unregulated and often unsupervised areas, particularly for children and teenagers. The high number of incidents on a single day highlights a critical need for enhanced safety measures and widespread public awareness campaigns. Many families visit these ghats for religious rituals or recreational bathing, frequently underestimating the river's strong currents and hidden depths. Strict parental supervision is crucial, and adults must exercise extreme caution when allowing children near or into the water, ensuring they are always within arm's reach and fully aware of potential risks.

The incidents also underscore the necessity for robust and swift emergency response systems at all popular ghats. Public outcry over rescue delays at Digha Ghat points to an urgent need for better coordination among local authorities, disaster response teams, and community volunteers. Implementing clearer warning signs, establishing designated safe bathing zones, and increasing the presence of trained lifeguards or personnel could significantly prevent such heartbreaking losses. These drownings are not merely individual tragedies but a collective call for systemic improvements in river safety and disaster preparedness to protect vulnerable lives across the region.