A religious ritual turned into a rescue operation at Haldi Chhapra Ganga Ghat in Maner, Patna, on Wednesday, September 23, when seven women, girls and young women were caught in the river’s strong current after the Karma-Dharma celebrations.
Four were rescued by local residents and boatmen, while Sanju Devi, 36, and teenagers Anjali Kumari, 13, and Preeti Kumari, 14, remain missing. Local swimmers and divers began searching the Ganga, while authorities and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were informed.
Local Mukhiya Ashok Kumar confirmed that the administration had been alerted. Reports differ slightly on how the accident began: while one account says the group was bathing after floating the ritual material, another says three entered the deeper water while attempting to save someone who had begun drowning.
Seven Swept Into Strong Current
The accident took place near the Surya Temple at Haldi Chhapra Ganga Ghat after the Karma-Dharma festival. According to local reports, the group had reached the river to float jhur-mur, traditional ceremonial material associated with the festival.
After the ritual, they entered the Ganga, when the situation suddenly became dangerous as several people were caught in the strong current. Media reported that seven women, adolescent girls and young women began struggling in the water. Local residents and boatmen immediately responded, managing to pull four people to safety.
A separate account published by Dainik Jagran says the sequence began when a woman started drowning in deeper water and others went into the river while attempting to save her. Three people subsequently disappeared into the current.
The missing have been identified as Sanju Devi, wife of Babban Rai; Anjali Kumari, daughter of Rajendra Rai; and Preeti Kumari, daughter of Baliram Rai. All three are reported to be from Saat Aana Tola in Haldi Chhapra. News4Nation reported that Sanju was 36, while Anjali and Preeti were 13 and 14 respectively, and described the two girls as Sanju’s nieces.
Search Operation Underway
Following the incident, villagers gathered at the ghat as local swimmers and divers entered the Ganga to search for the three missing people. Media sources reported that the administration and SDRF had been informed about the incident. At the time of the report, local divers were continuing their search while the area waited for the disaster-response team.
The difficulty of the operation comes amid a wider history of challenging river conditions in the area. In August, several low-lying parts of Maner’s diara region, including Haldi Chhapra, were affected by flooding after the Ganga, Son and Saryu rivers rose. Reports at the time said floodwater had entered homes and that boats had become an important means of transport in some areas.
The Haldi Chhapra incident also came amid reports of other water-related accidents during Karma-Dharma immersion activities in Patna district. Media reported separate incidents around Barh, Athmalgola and Bakhtiyarpur, where several people reportedly entered the Ganga and some were rescued while others remained missing or died. These incidents underline the risks that can arise when people enter rivers during religious rituals, particularly when currents and water levels are difficult to judge.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Religious festivals are deeply connected to community, tradition and shared cultural practices, but moments of celebration can become tragedies when natural hazards are underestimated. The priority now should be the safe and coordinated search for the three missing people, alongside support for their families and the four survivors.
The response of local residents and boatmen in rescuing four people also shows the importance of community intervention during emergencies. At the same time, the incident highlights the need for clear safety arrangements at frequently used river ghats, especially during festivals when large numbers of people gather near strong currents.
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