HATHRAS: At least six Kanwar devotees were mowed to death by a speeding truck in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh. One person is reportedly in critical condition. The police have taken the truck driver into custody. An investigation is underway into the incident.

The accident took place at around 2:15 am on Saturday. The devotees were en route to Gwalior from Haridwar. Six of them had died at the spot and another is undergoing treatment at the Medical College Hospital.

Last day, the Uttar Pradesh police officials, who were deployed to arrange facilities for the Kanwar devotees, had distributed helmets and national flags to the pilgrims returning from Haridwar on two-wheelers. The police had also set up a control room at Gautam Buddha Nagar in western Uttar Pradesh. The police have been directed to provide aid to devotees and take strict action against attempts to disrupt law and order. During the month of Shravan, devotees of Shiv perform the Kanwar Yatra on foot to places like Haridwar and Gaumukh in Uttarakhand to fetch water from the Ganges river.