18 dead after truck hits sleeping labourers in India
A police officer takes notes next to a parked bus onto which a truck struck overnight in Uttar Pradesh state, India. Police say a truck struck a group of laborers sleeping under the parked bus on the side of a highway in northern India. - APpic
UTTAR PRADESH: A truck struck a group of labourers sleeping under a parked bus on the side of a highway in northern India, killing at least 18 people and injuring 24, police said on Wednesday.
The accident occurred overnight in Barabanki, 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) northeast of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh state.
Authorities said the bus had broken down while on its route to the northern state of Bihar, prompting the driver to park it on the side of the highway.
The majority of the victims, many of whom were labourers returning home, were sleeping under the double-decker bus when the truck slammed into it.
Since the bus was crowded, many passengers were sleeping on the road as they were told the bus would only be repaired in the morning, a senior police official said.
The injured passengers were admitted to a hospital.
Rescue operations were still ongoing, police said, adding that the driver of the truck fled the scene.
More than 110,000 people are killed every year in road accidents across India, according to police. Most crashes are blamed on reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and aging vehicle
Must-Watch Video
Stay updated with our news