Three people were killed after being hit by a truck in Odisha's Dhenkanal district, while they were on their way to a pilgrimage site, police said Monday.
Two other 'kanwarias' (devotees of Shiva) were critically injured in the accident that took place around 10.30 p.m. Sunday.
The devotees were from Madhupatna village in the same district. Along with eight other people, the devotees were on their way to Kapilash pilgrimage site in Dhenkanal, about 100 km from state capital Bhubaneswar.
The truck hit them from behind, killing three people on the spot. They were identified as Kuna Prusty, 22, Ajay Mohapatra, 34 and Santosh Khilar, 27, police told IANS.
Efforts were on to track down the truck, police said.
The 'kanwarias' collect water from rivers and ponds in pots and walk to different temples to offer it to Lord Shiva during the Hindu month of Shravana.