Take a dip at your own risk: People take bath at Collectorate Ghat on the occasion of Kartik Purnima on Thursday. Picture by Jai Prakash

Patna, Nov. 10: Holy dip in the Ganga on the occasion of Kartik Purnima this morning proved fatal for three persons, exposing lack of trained divers in the city to rescue people in distress.

The three persons, including a minor girl, met watery grave within a span of an hour at three different ghats in a radius of 5km. Despite lakhs of devotees bathing at the ghats, the district administration’s lack of arrangements was apparent. Many ghats lacked lifeboats or divers.

Ramanuj Prasad, who had come to the Patna College Ghat from Kankerbagh, said: “There is no one from the district administration, leave aside lifeboats or divers.”

Admitting that the spurt in drowning cases was a matter of concern for the administration, Patna district magistrate Sanjay Kumar Singh said: “The administration is giving training to 40 divers. They will be placed at various ghats and act immediately upon hearing any incident of drowning.”

The first incident of drowning was reported from Baikathpur Ghat under Khusrupur police station around 8am when a 10-year-old girl, who had gone for a holy bath with her parents and relatives, was swept away by the strong current of the river.

“Divers are trying to find the girl. There was a huge rush at the ghat when the incident occurred,” an officer at the Khusrupur police station told The Telegraph.

The second incident was reported near gate number-88 area at Makhdumpur Ghat under Digha police station. An 18-year-old boy drowned around 8.30am in a bid to save his sibling swept away by the strong current of the river.

“Two brothers — Dhananjay Kumar (18) and Ayush Kumar (13) — had gone to take a bath with their family to the ghat this morning. The strong current swept Ayush away from the ghat. Seeing his brother getting drowned, Dhananjay dived to save him. Divers fished both the boys out of the water in a critical condition.

They were then taken to Holy Cross Family Hospital. While Ayush’s condition improved, Dhananjay was critical. His relatives took him to Sahyog Hospital from where he was referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital. But the boy could not be saved,” an officer at the Digha police station said.

The third blow came around 8.45pm. A middle-aged Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) jawan drowned while taking bath at Patna College Ghat under Pirbhore police station.

“The jawan, identified as Sonu Kumar, was accompanied by his mother for the holy bath. He apparently went too far in the water. Divers later recovered his body,” an officer at Pirbhore police station said.

Hours before the tragedies, lakhs of people started reaching various ghats along the Ganga on the occasion of Kartik Purnima. For some, it was a day to wash away their sins. For others, it was their religious belief to take a dip in the Ganga on a holy day.

Swarming with people from various parts of the state, the ghats resembled more like fair grounds.

According to Hindu mythology, Kartik Purnima marks the beginning of Lord Vishnu’s sleep. The month of Kartik starts when the Sun enters the house of Libra. People offer prayers and perform religious rituals this month.

Scores of people were seen taking bath at Collectorate Ghat, tagged as “dangerous” by the district administration before Chhath.

At the Darbhanga House and Collectorate ghats, devotees brought goats to offer to the Ganga for fulfilment of wishes.

The kids (baby goats) were thrown into the water, but the local fishermen rescued them and took them home.

Suman Devi, who had come from Makdumpur in Jehanabad, said: “I am offering a goat to the Ganga, as a male child has been born in my house after years.”

Shops selling rice cakes along the river banks made a roaring business. After taking bath in the Ganga, devotees munched on cakes made of rice and jaggery.