📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / अनुश्री साव
Religion
13-year-old girl drowns while discarding Jitiya puja items in Aurangabad, Bihar
✍️ Amar Ujala · Gaya
🗓 04 Oct 2026, 07:35 PM
👁 11
Three teenage girls went to the river in Kullahadiya village to throw away Jitiya puja items; two were rescued, while 13‑year‑old Harshika drowned.
Aurangabad district’s Nabinagar block witnessed a tragic accident on Thursday when three adolescent girls from Kullahadiya village entered the local river to dispose of Jitiya puja offerings. The girls were attempting to cleanse the ritual items by submerging them, a customary practice during the festival.
According to local police reports, two of the girls managed to reach the riverbank and were pulled to safety by nearby residents. The third girl, identified as 13‑year‑old Harshika, struggled to stay afloat and could not be rescued in time, leading to her death.
Police from the MALI police station have registered the incident as an accidental drowning and are conducting inquiries to ascertain whether any safety lapses contributed to the tragedy. The authorities have also urged villagers to avoid entering fast‑moving water bodies, especially during religious rituals that involve water disposal.
The incident has sparked concern among community members, who fear that similar mishaps could occur during the ongoing Jitiya celebrations. Local officials have promised to increase awareness campaigns about water safety in the coming days.
According to local police reports, two of the girls managed to reach the riverbank and were pulled to safety by nearby residents. The third girl, identified as 13‑year‑old Harshika, struggled to stay afloat and could not be rescued in time, leading to her death.
Police from the MALI police station have registered the incident as an accidental drowning and are conducting inquiries to ascertain whether any safety lapses contributed to the tragedy. The authorities have also urged villagers to avoid entering fast‑moving water bodies, especially during religious rituals that involve water disposal.
The incident has sparked concern among community members, who fear that similar mishaps could occur during the ongoing Jitiya celebrations. Local officials have promised to increase awareness campaigns about water safety in the coming days.