It's a blot on a city once known for its famous Banarasi sarees, paan and temples.

Over 12,000 children in the age group of 6-13 years, mostly from poor families living near Ganga Ghats, in Varanasi are tobacco and drug addicts, a survey has said.

A survey conducted by a social organisation, Vishal Bharat Sansthan, says that children use gutka (chewable tobacco), cigarette, heroin, whitener and inject intoxicants on a regular basis.

Even a large number of girls are using such intoxicants.

According to the survey, children from a rich background are also addicted to intoxicants.

Image:  Sadhus smoke charas in their shelter at Ganga Ghats.   

Text: PTI | Photograph: Manan Vatsyayana/AFP/Getty Images