Road accident kills 15 in India

At least 15 people including seven children and five women were killed and three others injured after a dump truck collided with an autorickshaw in southern Indian state of Telangana, officials said Sunday.

The accident took place Saturday night on highway at Dehgam between Baisa-Basara highway in Adilabad district, about 304 km north of Hyderabad city, the capital of Telangana.

"The accident occurred when a gravel-laden dump truck collided with an auto carrying 18 people," a police official said. "Fifteen people were killed and three others were injured in the accident."

The injured as per reports were initially admitted at a local medical facility but later shifted to Nizamabad government hospital.

Police said the victims were crushed under the heavy load after the autorickshaw they were travelling in was dragged to several yards.

The deceased, according to police, were working as laborers at a brick kiln in adjacent Nizamabad district of the state.

"The victims were going to a temple in the ill-fated auto," the official said.

Reports said all the victims hailed from Bokar Taluk of neighboring Maharashtra state.

Deadly road accidents are common in India, often caused due to overloading, bad condition of roads and reckless driving.

Global Road Safety Report - 2015 released by WHO last year said India accounts for more than 200,000 deaths annually due to road accidents. Endit