A heart-wrenching incident took place in the western region of Uttar Pradesh as five people, involving religious pilgrims (kanwariya) were killed and several injured after being electrocuted, said the police.The tragic incident occurred in Bhawanpurs Rali Chauhan village in Meerut district on Saturday night, where a group of Kanwariyas, devout followers of Lord Shiva, were returning with water from the Holy Ganges River in Haridwar.What happened on Saturday nightAccording to the police, as their vehicle was on its way back home playing celebratory music, just after entering the village it brushed against a dangerously low-hanging high-tension line.The high-voltage current charged the vehicle and into the gathered crowd, knocking down the devotees one after the other before anyone could react.After the tragedy, the crowd called the power station to shut down the electricity supply, but still for many, it was too late.The injured were taken to the hospitalThe police said that one of the Kanwar yatra pilgrims, identified as Manish, was declared dead at the scene. Four others have since died from their injuries, while five more victims are being treated in various hospitals in the region. Till now, the condition of two victims is still reported to be critical.This accident soon turned into aggression, the villagers blocked the roads and staged protests against the electricity department. They also demanded strict actions against its officials for their negligence that led to the fatal accident.One of the villagers said, “The accident was a result of negligence in the preparation for the Kanwar Yatra.” The villagers demand for accountability and justice underscored the tension in the aftermath of the tragedy.About Kanwar YatraIn India, the Kanwar Yatra is the largest religious gathering, drawing an estimated 10 to 12 million participants each year from states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh Odisha, and Jharkhand. The pilgrims, known as Kanwariyas, dress in saffron attire, often walking barefoot alongside vehicles on highways in a show of devotion towards Lord Shiva.Last month, a similar incident took place in Tripuras Unakoti district where at least seven people, including two children, were killed and 16 others injured after a religious rath or chariot came into contact with an overhead high-voltage electric wire
