Lucknow, Mar 25 (IANS): Despite heavy security and precautions taken by the administration, more than two dozen people were killed in Uttar Pradesh on Holi, police said on Friday.

While five people were killed in road accidents in Lucknow, nine died in an accident in Bulandshahr and the remaining were killed during brawl or drunk driving.

The police said that most of the deaths in road accidents were result of rash, careless and drunk driving.

In central and western Uttar Pradesh, clashes between groups over trivial issues also led to some deaths.

As many as 252 people were injured in road accidents on Holi. A majority of the injured people suffered head injuries, fractures and open wounds, an official told IANS.

At the trauma centre in Lucknow, the neurology department was full as most of the patients were rushed with head injuries due to riding without wearing a helmet. The Ortho wards were also occupied in the city.

However, the Director General of Police headquarters in the state has put the toll at 14.