KKN Gurugram Desk | A heart-wrenching incident unfolded in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar when five young girls, all under the age of 15, went swimming in the Budhi Gandak River and met with a tragic accident. While three of them were rescued by a courageous local youth, two girls—Sonal Kumari (10) and Krishna Kumari (14)—lost their lives. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the Kolhua locality, raising questions about child safety, river access, and timely emergency response.

The Incident: What Happened on the Banks of Budhi Gandak

On the evening of Wednesday, May 21, 2025, five girls from Kolhua village in the Ahiyapur police station area went to bathe in the Budhi Gandak River, unaware that their playful outing would soon turn into a devastating tragedy. The girls—Sonal Kumari, Krishna Kumari, Sonali (10), Nandini (8), and Rashmi Kumari (9)—entered the river near a ghat notorious for its unpredictable currents and hidden dredging pits.

Two of the girls slipped into a deeper portion of the river. In a frantic attempt to rescue them, the other three jumped in, only to find themselves caught in the current as well. Their desperate screams for help drew attention from nearby locals.

Heroic Rescue: One Youth Saves Three Lives

Among the crowd that quickly gathered, one unnamed youth sprang into action. Displaying immense bravery and quick thinking, he plunged into the water and successfully pulled out three of the five girls—Sonali, Nandini, and Rashmi. Unfortunately, Sonal and Krishna had already been dragged beneath the surface by the current. The incident threw the entire area into chaos, with cries of panic and sorrow echoing from the riverbanks.

Immediate Response and the SDRF’s Role

As news of the incident spread, family members of the missing girls rushed to the scene. Local police from the Ahiyapur station were immediately informed. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, they summoned the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), which arrived with motorboats to begin a search operation.

However, visibility was poor due to the onset of darkness, and despite extensive efforts, the bodies could not be located that night. Search operations were suspended until the next morning.

Day Two: A Grim Discovery

On Thursday, the SDRF resumed its search at dawn, combing the murky waters and the deep dredging pits formed by riverbed mining. Still, by 4 p.m., there was no sign of the girls. Desperate for closure, the families brought in local divers who eventually located the bodies.

Both girls were found entangled in marshy, silt-laden sections of the riverbed. Sonal Kumari, daughter of Rambachan Paswan, and Krishna Kumari, daughter of Rambabu Paswan, were confirmed dead. The bodies, bloated from 24 hours submerged in water and mud, were recovered with great difficulty.

Postmortem and Legal Procedures

The police ensured that all legal formalities were followed. The deceased were transported to the Shri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) for autopsy. The authorities have registered a case and initiated an investigation to rule out any foul play, though preliminary findings indicate the tragedy was accidental.

Background of the Victims

Sonal Kumari, originally from Bhagwanpur in the Sadar police station jurisdiction, had been living with her maternal grandmother in Kolhua for the past four years. Krishna Kumari hailed from a family of daily wage workers. Both families are devastated by the sudden loss of their daughters and have appealed for government assistance and action to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Eyewitness Account: Rashmi Kumari Speaks

Rashmi Kumari, one of the survivors, recounted the horrifying moments. “We were just having fun, splashing around. Suddenly, Sonal slipped and started drowning. Krishna tried to help her, and then we all jumped in to pull them out. We didn’t realize the water was so deep. It happened so fast.”

She also identified the brave young man who rescued them, calling him “our angel.” While he has chosen to remain anonymous, the community is praising his bravery.

Community Reaction and Public Outcry

The tragedy has left Kolhua and surrounding villages in mourning. Hundreds gathered for the last rites of the girls. Community leaders and activists have called for increased safety measures around local water bodies, including:

• Warning signs and fencing near dangerous ghats

• Public awareness campaigns about river safety

• Lifeguard deployment during high-traffic hours

• Regular inspection and filling of dredging pits

Official Statement from Ahiyapur Police

Station in-charge Rohan Kumar confirmed the sequence of events and the police’s response. “As soon as we received the information, we acted swiftly. SDRF was brought in immediately. Unfortunately, the darkness hampered the initial search. We are deeply saddened by this incident.”

He also mentioned that efforts are underway to identify risky zones along the Budhi Gandak River and prevent unsupervised access to such areas.

The Budhi Gandak: A River of Risk

The Budhi Gandak River, a tributary of the Ganga, flows through several parts of North Bihar and is both a lifeline and a hazard. In recent years, due to unchecked dredging and absence of safety protocols, several drowning incidents have occurred. The deep pits formed due to mining operations often go unnoticed and turn deadly during recreational swims.

Call for Government Action

Social activists, local MLAs, and citizens are demanding urgent measures from the Bihar government, including:

• Compensation for the grieving families

• Construction of safe bathing ghats

• Regulation and control of illegal dredging

• Establishment of a dedicated river safety force

The opposition parties have also taken note, calling the incident a result of administrative negligence.

This heartbreaking incident in Muzaffarpur is a stark reminder of the dangers lurking beneath seemingly calm river waters. The loss of two innocent lives, despite a valiant rescue effort, underlines the urgent need for systemic reforms in how public water bodies are accessed and managed.

While the community mourns, questions remain: Could this have been prevented? What lessons will be learned? And how many more such tragedies will it take before river safety becomes a priority?