At least 46 people, including 37 children and seven women, have drowned while celebrating a Hindu religious festival in eastern India, local officials reported.

The fatalities were confirmed across 15 districts in the last 24 hours as the region grappled with dangerous water levels due to recent flooding.

The victims were partaking in ritual bathing during the Jivitputrika festival, which celebrates the wellbeing of children. The festival is marked annually by mothers fasting and performing prayers for their offspring.

According to a disaster management official, many people ignored warnings and bathed in rivers and ponds swollen by flooding, resulting in the tragic deaths. Authorities fear the death toll may rise as search efforts continue.

State officials in Bihar have announced compensation for the families and relatives of the victims. Despite the celebrations, the recent weather conditions made the water levels treacherous, and safety measures were not adequately followed.

Fatal incidents during festivals are not uncommon in India, where large crowds often gather in tight spaces without sufficient safety precautions. In July of this year, at least 121 people were killed in a crowd crush at a religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh. In 2018, nearly 60 people lost their lives after a train hit a crowd during Dusshera, another Hindu festival.

Authorities are urging festival-goers to remain cautious and heed warnings in the wake of these tragic events. (ILKHA)