17 killed, 62 injured as truck overturns in NE India

NEW DELHI - At least 17 people were killed and 62 others injured Sunday, some of them critically, after a speeding truck overturned in India's northeastern state of Meghalaya, police said.

The accident took place at Jdohkroh village near Nongstoin in West Khasi Hills district, about 95 km west of Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya.

The victims belonging to Christian community were going to attend a religious function.

"This morning a speeding truck overcrowded with villagers was going to church at Nonglang village to attend some religious function. However the truck overturned after the driver lost control of the vehicle and hit a concrete railing," Bijay Chetri, a police officer told Xinhua over telephone from West Khasi Hills. "So far 17 people have been killed and 62 others are injured."

The injured according to Chetri were immediately removed to different hospitals.

"All the injured have been hospitalised and condition of some is stated to be critical," Chetri said.

Police officials said preliminary investigation revealed the truck was being driven negligently at a high speed.

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

India's ministry of road transport in 2015 said 146,133 people were killed and 500,279 others injured in 501,423 road accidents across the country.