In a major accident in Gujarat's Bhavnagar, as many as 19 people, including three children and 12 women, lost their lives and six were injured after a truck they were travelling in overturned at Bavalyali village in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, on Saturday morning.
"There were 25 labourers travelling in the truck. The vehicle turned turtle early morning and 19 labourers were crushed to death," Ahmedabad Superintendent of Police R V Asari said.
The accident took place on Ahmedabad-Bhavnagar highway when the cement-laden truck was coming from Pipavav Port in Bhavnagar district, police said.
The deceased include 12 women, he said, adding that while 18 of them died on the spot, another one succumbed in hospital.
"The accident seems to have taken place as the driver of the truck lost control over the vehicle. After the mishap, the driver escaped from the spot and a search has been launched to trace him," Asari said.
The injured passengers have been shifted to a government hospital in Bavayali village and the bodies of the deceased will be sent for an autopsy shortly.
The driver fled the spot after the accident occured.
20 tourists from Gujarat injured in road accident in HP
In a separate incident, 20 tourists from Gujarat were injured on Saturday when a bus in which they were travelling turned turtle at Mangrot on Bilaspur-Shimla Highway, about 80 km from Shimla.
The ill-fated bus carrying 41 persons was on its way from Shimla to Manali, police said.
The accident reportedly took place due to over speeding and two cars parked on the roadside were also damaged, they said.
The injured persons were rushed to the civil hospital in Bilaspur and are stated to be out of danger.
A case has been registered and investigations was underway, police added.
To read the full story, Subscribe Now at just Rs 249 a month