At least 46 people – including 37 children and seven women – drowned while celebrating a Hindu religious festival in eastern India, local officials said.
The fatalities were confirmed across 15 districts in the past 24 hours.
A disaster management official said the victims died while ritually bathing in rivers and ponds swollen by recent flooding.
The three-day Jivitputrika festival celebrates children’s wellbeing every year and is also marked with mothers fasting for them.
Officials in Bihar said many people ignored dangerous water levels in rivers while bathing to celebrate the festival.
There are fears that the overall death toll could rise further.
State authorities said families and relatives of the victims will receive compensation.
Deadly accidents have occurred in the past across India during major festivals when huge crowds have gathered in tight spaces with little adherence to safety measures.
In July, at least 121 people were killed in a crush at a religious gathering in the northern Uttar Pradesh state.
In 2018, nearly 60 people were killed after a train rammed into a crowd watching celebrations for Dusshera, a Hindu festival.
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag fumed at the "fairytales" and "lies" he believes are being spread about his future, amid speculation that he could have lost
THE first round proper of the FA Vase beckons for Buckland Athletic and Ivybridge Town tomorrow.Buckland will welcome Southampton-based Millbrook FC to Homers H
Liverpool host Chelsea at 16:30 BST on Sunday before a Champions League game away at RB Leipzig on Wednesday.Alisson has already missed two games this season th
Ben White, 27, has spoken to Ben Foster about his relationship with football PLUS: How the Arsenal star is trying to make a difference in the worl