Three 'kanwarias' die in accident

Lucknow, July 22 (IANS) Three 'kanwarias' or Shiva devotees were killed Tuesday when a truck in which they were travelling overturned in Uttar Pradesh, police said.

Seventeen others were injured in the accident in Muzaffarnagar and admitted to a medical facility. Other furious kanwarias briefly disrupted traffic in the area.

An official told IANS that the truck was speeding. While negotiating a bend, the driver apparently hit a divider after losing control of the vehicle.

Thousands of 'kanwarias' walk barefoot or hitch rides on vehicles to fetch water from the Ganga in Haridwar. This is used for worship in Shiva temples in their area.