18 labourers killed as truck overturns in India

At least 18 labourers were killed and 19 others injured when a speeding truck overturned at S point on Pune - Satara highway of India in the early hours on Tuesday, reports The Times of India.

The truck, carrying construction labourers from Bijapur district in Karnataka, was going towards Bhor when it met with the accident around 4.30 am on Pune - Satara highway passing through the district, around 250 km from here, Satara's Superintendent of Police Sandeep Patil said. 

The driver apparently lost control over the wheels at an accident-prone stop near Khambatki ghat. As a result, the vehicle rammed into a barricade and then overturned, he said. 

At least 18 labourers died on the spot, while 19 others sustained injuries, he said. 

On being informed, the Khandala police rushed the spot and took all the victims to civil hospital of Satara and Shirval.

The police were trying to ascertain the exact reason of the accident, the official said, adding that they suspect the accident occurred due to the driver's lack of concentration as he had been constantly driving and was deprived of sleep. 

The bodies were sent for postmortem and the process to identify the deceased was on, the police added.