Five persons die at Gangasagar

Gangasagar (WB), Jan 14 (PTI) Four pilgrims and atourist died after cardiac arrest after a holy dip in the icywaters of the Ganga at the Gangasagar fair today.

Over five lakh people from across the countrygathered in the confluence of the Ganga and the Bay of Bengalon the occasion of Makar Sankranti.

The fair is the second largest congregation of peopleafter the holy Kumbha Mela held annually on the Sagar Island''ssouthern tip.

Kumbha Mela is held once in four years.

Police said the deceased have been identified as VinaySingh (65) of Madhya Pradesh, Bhabdhara Devi (80) of Bihar,Ashok Tripathi (60) of Uttar Pradesh and Bholanda Giri (65).

Saddat Ansari (52), a tourist from Jharkhand, alsodied after heart failure, police said.

Nearly 11,000 people are suffering from variousdiseases and 9 people had to be hospitalised. More than athousand people have been suffering from water-borne diseases,the officials said.