A speeding truck ploughed into a rickshaw in eastern India killing at least 12 passengers, police said Monday.
The dead were returning from a Hindu festival late Sunday when the truck rammed the vehicle on a highway in Jharkhand state´s Gumla district, some 100 kilometres (62 miles) from state capital Ranchi.
A hunt is on for the truck driver who sped away from the accident, Gumla police chief Anshuman Kumar told AFP.
He said four other passengers were in the hospital with serious injuries.
India has some of the world´s deadliest roads. More than 150,000 people are killed each year with most accidents blamed on poor roads, badly maintained vehicles and reckless driving.Those traveling in the auto-rickshaw were returning home in Bharno from a fair on the occasion of Makar Shankranti in Bero in the district.
Eleven people were killed on the spot, while five suffered grievous injuries, Superintendent of Poice Anshuman Kumar said.
The injured people were rushed to a nearby hospital, from where doctors referred them to Rajendra Institute of Medical Science in Ranchi.
Kumar rushed to the spot along with Deputy Commissioner Sharvan Sahay.
Further details are awaited.
,12 people were killed ){kind=link}