Patna Chhath Puja accident: '5-hour' delay by NDRF sparks row as 3 teens feared drowned

Four teenagers on Sunday went missing amid Chhath Puja celebrations at the Mirzapur Ghat in Bihar's Patna district, sparking anger against the "five-hour delay" by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) that could have saved them.

While one of the boys was rescued by local divers, the other three remain missing and are feared drowned, which has left many mourning on the festive occasion.

The three missing teens were identified as Asu, Suraj, and Aditya, and were reportedly cleaning and decorating the Mirzapur Ghat when they ventured too deep into the water and went missing, which stands on the banks of the Punpun River—a tributary of the Ganga in Bihar.

However, some local media reports claim that the three had ventured into the river to bathe and offer prayers at the time of the tragedy.

"We've been calling for five hours. The police have been there for an hour. The police are also constantly trying to contact them, but the NDRF isn't arriving. If the team arrives after five hours, will the child be found?" an angry villager told NDTV India.

Locals also alleged that their calls to the NDRF and SDRF using helpline numbers listed online failed, and claimed that the numbers were inaccurate. Multiple calls made to administrative officials and local public representatives also proved to be of no use.

An SDRF team is now conducting search operations for the missing youths, with the help of divers.

The administration has also appealed to people to follow safety rules while bathing in the river during Chhath Puja festivities. Caution is especially needed at crowded ghats, in light of previous drowning incidents during the celebrations.