The Karam Puja festivities in Palamu district, Jharkhand, took a tragic turn on Wednesday when six children drowned in separate incidents while participating in the immersion of the Karam Dali.

Five of the children lost their lives in the Bokya locality during the immersion in the Koel River. Reports indicate that the drownings occurred in a pond adjacent to the river.

Karam Dali immersion, also referred to as Karam Visarjan, marks the conclusion of the Karam festival, which is a significant harvest celebration among tribal and agricultural communities across various states including Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Assam, and Bihar.

The incidents caused widespread alarm in the vicinity, prompting swift action from local police who arrived to conduct rescue operations. Community members and local authorities also participated in the search efforts for the children.

So far, four bodies have been retrieved, while the search for one missing child continues.

In another tragic occurrence, a 15-year-old girl drowned during the immersion of Karam Dali in Nani Jharia.

Law enforcement responded promptly to the reports of these incidents and initiated rescue efforts in the affected areas.