As many as five people were killed and 18 others sustained injuries when a pickup van carrying devotees fell into a water-filled ditch near Gai Ghat in the Chenari police station area on Friday.

"The pickup van carrying 23 devotees from Gera-Chandi village of Gorari police station area of Karakat was going for Jalabhishek for Gupta Dham Shivratri of Chenari police station area," police said.