9 killed, over 24 injured in road accident in eastern India

NEW DELHI -- At least nine people were killed and over 24 others injured early Monday after a bus carrying them rammed into a trailer laden with steed rods in eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, police said.

The accident took place at Danua Ghati-Chauparan in Hazaribagh district, about 157 km north of Ranchi, the capital city of Jharkhand.

"An accident took place here early today at 3:30 am local time in which a bus carrying passengers hit a stationary trailer loaded with steel rods," a police official posted in Hazaribagh told Xinhua. "Initial reports said nine people were killed on spot and 24 others are injured," the police official said.

According to the police official, all injured were removed to a hospital in Chauparan.

"Of the injured, the condition of some is stated to be critical," the police official said.

Police official said the bus was carrying passengers from Ranchi to Gaya in neighbouring Bihar state.

The cause of accident was not immediately known. However, police officials suspect that driver of the passenger vehicle might have dozed off behind the wheel that resulted in the accident.