Begusarai, May 20 (PTI) Five persons, all men aged between 17 and 20, drowned in Ganga in Bihar's Begusarai district on Monday, police said.

The incident happened at Simaria Ghat where residents of a nearby village had come for a holy dip, said Neeraj Kumar Chaudhary, the SHO of Chakia police station.

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"They had come for a holy dip after a 'mundan' (tonsure) ceremony. After they were swept by a strong current, divers were pressed into service. Five bodies have been recovered," he said.

Barauni Circle Officer Suraj Kant said assistance would be provided to the next of kin of each deceased in accordance with the state government's policy.

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Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also issued a statement expressing grief over the incident.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)