Ten Holi revellers were killed and at least 210 injured in road accidents, mostly due to drunken driving, and communal violence in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan even as spirit of bonhomie marked the boisterous festival of colours in most parts of the country on Monday.
With the heat of Lok Sabha elections mounting, there was a good mixture of colours and politics when the country's top political leadership including Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, his deputy LK Advani, Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi and RJD supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav talked of the poll battle, their rivals and issues related to it.
Curfew was imposed in Darvha town of Maharashtra's Yavatmal district as members of the two communities hurled stones at each other leaving 16 people injured after some colours accidentally fell on a mosque.
At least 24 people were injured as communal clashes erupted at Sikandrabad locality of Allahabad when members of minority community objected to the revellers' movement through a particular lane.
The two groups pelted stone at each other damaging several shops and vehicles.
In a tragic end to Holi festivities, five youths were asphyxiated in an unused well when they attempted to save a teenager who fell into it while celebrating the festival in Bahraich town of Uttar Pradesh.