Tragic Toll: Drownings Mar Chhath Celebrations in Ballia

Three individuals have lost their lives in separate drowning incidents during the Chhath celebrations in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district, as confirmed by local police on Tuesday. The tragic accidents occurred as devotees participated in rituals at different locations.

In Nagra, 28-year-old Mahesh Patel met with misfortune when he slipped into a pond while collecting water for the Chhath rituals. Despite villagers' efforts to rescue him and transport him first to a local health facility and then to the district hospital, Patel was declared dead on arrival by doctors.

Another incident unfolded in Agaur village under the Bansdih police station, where 50-year-old Dhela Mishra drowned while taking a holy dip near a temple. The body was retrieved from the pond and sent for postmortem. Meanwhile, at Mallowa village within the Maniyar police jurisdiction, Anuj Paswan drowned while preparing a ritual platform beside a pond. Paswan, too, was rushed to medical facilities but was pronounced dead upon arrival.