Nearly 1.45-crore pilgrims took a dip in the Ganga on Wednesday, the day of the last royal bath during the Mahakumbh here, according to Director-General of Police Subhash Joshi. The occasion was Mesh Sankranti. Five pilgrims, including three women and a girl, were killed after being hit by a car carrying Naga Sadhus in the Birla Ghat bridge area, official sources said.
The accident took place when the procession of Joona Akhara was approaching Har-Ki-Pauri and crowds of people had lined up to witness it. Nine persons were injured in the incident. The health office at the Mahakumbh Mela said seven persons had died on Wednesday. It was not clear whether this figure included those who died in the accident.
After the accident, Sadhus belonging to Joona and Niranjani Akharas did not proceed towards Har-Ki-Pauri, the main bathing ghat. They returned to their camps for bathing at private ghats.
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Sadhus of Mahanirvani, Nirmohi Ani, Digambar Ani and Nirwani Ani akharas reached Har-Ki-Pauri in procession and bathed at the ghat.