13 pilgrims killed in India road crash

Indian police said on Friday in New Delhi that 13 pilgrims had been killed in a road accident.

They said that the incident occurred when a van the pilgrims were travelling in collided with a truck in eastern India.

The police said that the pilgrims, devotees of Hindu god, Shiva, were returning from the temple town of Puri in neighbouring Orissa state when the crash occurred.

Indra Bhushan, Local Police Inspector, confirmed that eight people were injured in the incident which was recorded on a highway in Jharkhand state’s Saraikela Kharsawan district.

“The van was hit by a speeding truck coming from the opposite direction and most of the people died on the spot,’’ Bhushan said.

He added that the injured were admitted in a hospital where the condition of three victims was said to be critical.

He said the police had arrested the truck driver.