AGRA, Oct. 26 -- Five people, including three minor sisters, were killed and 15 injured after a speeding car ploughed into villagers seated on the roadside while preparing to immerse Tesu-Jhanjhi idols as part of a pre-Diwali ritual on the Shikohabad-Bateshwar road in Firozabad district on Sunday night. A man travelling in the car, who was allegedly beaten by villagers following the accident, died during treatment on Monday, taking the death toll to six, police said.

The victims were among villagers from Chatanpur who had gathered along the roadside for the Tesu-Jhanjhi ritual, a traditional folk festival observed before Diwali in parts of Uttar Pradesh, including Agra, Mathura, Kanpur, Etawah, Orai and Jhansi. The ritual involves a symb...