Haridwar: A dip in the Ganga here, especially during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela, may wash away your sins but leave you with skin diseases, stomach bugs and a host of other health problems, says a study conducted by a scientific institute in Uttarakhand.

Holy dip in Ganges on Basant Panchami

Researchers at the People's Science Institute (PSI) in Dehradun have found that the Ganga in Haridwar contains high concentration of faecal coliforms, a type of bacteria originating in faeces that can cause several health hazards.

Image: People offer prayers to the Sun God as they bathe during solar eclipse at the Kumbh fair in Haridwar on Jan. 15, 2010.

Text: IANS

Images: AP