Rakshabandhan festivities in parts of Gujarat on Tuesday were marred by rumours of deaths due to jinxed rakhis.

People threw their rakhis away and women called their brothers to tell them about the 'curse' after a rumour spread that those with rakhis around their wrists would die at 10 pm.

"The mass hysteria was baffling...even intelligent, educated people fell prey,"  Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone V, Amit Kumar Vishwakarma said.

"As far as I know, no police complaint has been registered. Scores of people were on the streets, but we did not find it necessary to intensify patrolling as the presence of police might have only added to the panic," he said.

Iqbal Sheikh, a municipal councillor in Gomtipur, said he got a call from his sister around 3 am about the public scare.

"I assured her that my rakhi and I were both safe and told her to be in peace. I also went around the neighbourhood where groups of people were out on the streets and asked them not to fall prey to such rumours," Sheikh told PTI.

Sheikh said he rang up several hospitals to find out if there were any strange accidents or deaths, but was told that the reports were baseless.

Reports from Vadodara said long queues were seen at public call offices as people tried to call their near and dear ones.