Karma puja tragedy: Five females drown in a pond during festivities in Bihar's Nawada; four victims below age 20

Five people, including four girls and a woman, drowned in a pond during Karma Puja celebrations at Datraula village in Bihar's Nawada district on Wednesday.

The incident took place at Datraula village under the jurisdiction of Pakribarawan police station.

Victims slipped into the pond during the festivities, Deputy SP (Headquarters) Nishu Mallick told PTI.

“Four girls, aged between 12 and 19 years, and a woman drowned in the pond during ‘Karma Puja’ festivities. Officials of the district administration and the local police reached the spot, and a rescue operation was launched with the help of divers", he said.

“The divers fished out the bodies, which have been sent for post-mortem examination. Further formalities are being completed,” Mallick added.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today wished all fellow countrymen, especially the tribal community on the occasion of Karma Puja.

“In this festival, which symbolizes the unbreakable love between brother and sister, the worship of nature also holds special significance”, he wrote on X.

सभी देशवासियों, विशेषकर जनजातीय समुदाय के अपने परिवारजनों को करमा पूजा की ढेरों शुभकामनाएं। भाई-बहन के अटूट प्रेम के प्रतीक इस त्योहार में प्रकृति पूजन का भी विशेष महत्त्व है। मेरी कामना है कि यह पावन अवसर हर किसी के लिए सुख, सौभाग्य और उत्तम स्वास्थ्य लेकर आए, साथ ही पर्यावरण…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 3, 2025

Karma Puja, widely celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand and neighbouring states, is observed as a festival of fertility and prosperity.