NEW DELHI, July 18 (Xinhua) -- At least nine people have been killed and more than four others injured in a road accident in the eastern Indian state of Bihar Tuesday, a senior police official said.
"The accident happened when a speeding bus rammed into a auto-rickshaw on national highway number 77 near Sarai Bazar in Vaishali district, some 30 kms from state capital Patna, this morning," he said on condition of anonymity.
While nine people died on the spot, those injured were rushed to a nearby government hospital, where the condition of some are said to be serious.
"All the victims were occupants of the auto-rickshaw, including its driver," the official added.
Eye-witnesses told cops that the accident occurred after the driver of the speeding passengers bus lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a bend and hit the three-wheeler that was overloaded.
Local TV channels showed footage of the mangled auto-rickshaw and reported that villagers blocked the national highway in protest against the accident, demanding compensation for the families of the victims.
The state government has announced a compensation of 400,000 rupees (7,000 U.S. dollars approx) for the families of those killed in the accident.
A probe has been ordered into the incident, the police official said, adding that a manhunt has been launched to track down the bus driver who fled the spot after the accident.
"We have booked the bus driver for rash and negligent driving," he added.
India has the highest number of road fatalities in the world. Road accidents occur often due to poor driving or badly maintained roads and vehicles.
