The crowd, including a large number of foreign tourists, were witnessing ceremonial 'aarti' of river Ganga at a ghat here. Soon after it got over and people were getting ready to leave when a loud explosion struck the area.
The noise of the blast triggered panic among the people who ran helter skelter for their lives.
"We had gathered here for an ganga 'mayee' aarti and were getting ready to leave when a loud noise was heard and we ran for our lives. Ghats had been the target previously also," said an eyewitness.