Dozens, including 37 children, drown during flood-hit festival in India's Bihar state

46 people, mostly children, drown as they bathe in rivers swollen by recent floods while observing a Hindu festival

At least 46 people, mostly children, drowned in Bihar, India, while bathing in rivers swollen by recent floods during the Hindu festival of Jivitputrika Vrat.

This festival, celebrated by millions, involves women fasting and offering prayers for the wellbeing of their children.

Many families visit rivers and ponds to bathe, often with their children, during the observance.

In scattered incidents across 15 districts, 37 children and seven women tragically lost their lives.

The state government has announced a compensation of US$4,784 for each victim's family.

These kinds of deadly incidents are not uncommon in India, especially during major religious gatherings that see millions of devotees flock to holy sites.

Last year, 22 people drowned while observing the same festival in Bihar.

The monsoon season, which runs from June to September, brings life-giving rains but also devastation in the form of floods and landslides.

This year, India has experienced severe weather-related disasters, exacerbated by climate change, deforestation, and development projects.

More than 200 people died in Kerala earlier this year due to torrential rains that caused landslides, while a Hindu religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh witnessed the crushing deaths of 116 people in July.

India's monsoon rains, which began retreating this week, play a vital role in agriculture but increasingly result in widespread destruction across the country.

Experts point to climate change as a significant factor in the growing frequency of extreme weather events, adding to the challenges faced by vulnerable communities across South Asia.