At least 20 killed in India road accident

A truck carrying concrete stone chips collided with a passenger bus in southern India early Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring around two dozen, authorities said.

The state-run bus, carrying about 70 passengers to Hyderabad in Telangana, was hit by a truck coming from the opposite direction near Chevalla, district official K. Chandrakala told The Associated Press. The front of the bus was badly mangled, trapping several passengers.

Rajendra Prasad, superintendent at Chevalla hospital, confirmed that 20 bodies have been moved to the mortuary and will be handed to families after verification.

The victims included women, children, and the bus driver. Local authorities are treating the injured at nearby hospitals. Senior police officer Kundan Kanwaria said the bus driver was attempting to overtake another vehicle when it crashed into the stationary truck.

Such poorly marked vehicles parked along highways are a common hazard in India and have contributed to numerous fatal accidents.

The crash follows a similar accident in Rajasthan on Sunday, where a minibus rammed into a parked truck, killing 15 people, including 10 women and four children. Both incidents prompted condolences from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and state officials.

India has seen a string of deadly bus accidents in recent weeks, highlighting ongoing concerns over road safety and poorly marked vehicles.