Five people drown as Karam festival’s sacred tree branch is immersed in Jharkhand river

A tragic incident occurred in Jharkhand when five individuals drowned while the community was immersing a tree branch that is central to the Karam tribal festival. The immersion, a customary ritual marking the conclusion of the celebration, took place in a local river. According to initial reports, the participants were caught in strong currents as the branch was lowered, leading to the fatalities. Local authorities have launched an investigation and are providing assistance to the families of the victims. The incident has prompted calls for stricter safety measures during future religious immersions.