22 drown in Bihar while taking bath during Jivitputrika festival; CM announces Rs 4 lakh compensation

Patna, 8/10: Twenty-two people have drowned while bathing in rivers and ponds in Bihar in separate incidents, officials said on Sunday.

The incidents took place in the last 24 hours when a majority of them were bathing for Jivitputrika festival, during which women fast for the well-being of their children, they said. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar condoled the deaths and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each for the next of the kin of the deceased.