The truck was transporting worshipers from three small towns to a local church when it crashed on Sunday in the remote West Khasi Hills district in the state of Meghalaya, Indian authorities said.

"The survivors have told us that the truck driver was rash and lost control of the vehicle," police superintendent Sylvester Nongtnger told the AFP news agency. "After it overturned, many people fell into the deep gorge in this hilly region," he added.

Local officials said that the crash killed 16 people and injured more than 50 others.

"We rescued everyone from the accident spot and rushed them to hospital, but many of the survivors have serious injuries," Nongtnger said.

State official Arun Kembhavi said that the driver apparently lost control while speeding in a sharp bend, causing him to hit a concrete barricade.

Victims of the crash were hospitalized in the nearby town of Nongstoin

India's roads are among the most dangerous in the world, with poorly maintained traffic connections, malfunctioning vehicles, and reckless drivers causing more than 150,000 deaths every year. The nation's massive railway network is also beset by problems.

Last month, a school bus collided with a truck in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, killing 13 people, including 12 children.

dj/tj (AFP,AP)</s>16 people have died after the truck carrying them to a Sunday church service overturned on an Indian highway</s>NEW DELHI: Sixteen people were killed and more than 50 injured when a truck carrying churchgoers overturned in a hilly region of northeast India early Sunday, police said.

The truck was carrying people from three villages to a local church when it came to grief in the West Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya state.

"The survivors have told us that the truck driver was rash and lost control of the vehicle. After it overturned, many people fell into the deep gorge in this hilly region," district police Superintendent Sylvester Nongtnger told AFP by phone.

"We rescued everyone from the accident spot and rushed them to hospital but many of the survivors have serious injuries." India has some of the world's deadliest roads with more than 150,000 fatalities annually due to poor roads, badly maintained vehicles and reckless driving. Last month a school bus carrying dozens of pupils collided with a truck in northern India's Uttar Pradesh state, killing 13 people.

Twelve of the dead were children aged between seven and 14, who were seated near the front of the bus when an oncoming truck collided with it.</s>Sixteen people were killed and more than 50 injured when a truck carrying churchgoers overturned in a hilly region of northeast India early Sunday, police said. The accident occurred around 8.30am at Nongspung village, 11 km from the district headquarters of Nogstoin on the road to Shillong .

Start the conversation, or Read more at The Oak Ridge Observer.</s>Meghalaya: At least 16 people were killed and 50 injured when a truck taking them to a Sunday church service overturned after hitting a concrete barricade on a highway in India’s remote northeast.

Police say some people were flung into a deep gorge in the mountainous area by the impact of the accident. The injured, some in serious condition, were hospitalised.

Arun Kembhavi, a Meghalaya state government administrator, says the driver apparently lost control of the truck at a sharp bend as he was speeding near Nongspung, a small town in the state.

Accidents are common on Indian roads, with most blamed on reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and ageing vehicles.</s>Shillong: According to the information given by the police, minimum of 16 people lost their lives while several others got injured when a truck carrying almost 70 people overturned.

After overturning, the truck ramped into concrete barricade of a road in Meghalayas West Khasi Hills district injuring more than 55 people in the accident.

 

 

 



The incident took place in Jdohkroh village which is located 11 km from Nongstoin.

 

 

 



Further details given by the Police said that the truck carrying more than 70 passengers overturned and several passengers fell into the deep gorge and the rescue team has been sent to the spot to assist the needy.

Injured people were rushed to the nearby Shillong Civil Hospital. If information given by the witness is to be believed then the over speed was the reason behind the accident.</s>At least 16 people were killed while over 50 others injured after a truck carrying over 70 people to a church overturned in Meghalaya's West Khasi Hills district around 8:30 am on Sunday (February 26).

The accident happened at Nongspung village, situated around 11 kilometres from the district headquarters of Nogstoin on the road to state capital Shillong, according to local media reports. The victims were headed towards the Nonglang village to attend the synod of Presbyterian Church.

"Preliminary investigations show that the accident took place due to rash driving. The truck was carrying nearly 70 people from three nearby villages, all of whom were heading to church... Twelve people died on the spot and four others succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. Nearly 50 others are injured. The driver also sustained grievous injuries," West Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Sylvester Nongtnger told the media.

The driver lost control of the truck due to which it overturned and hit a concrete railing on the hilly road. Most passengers fell down a deep gorge after the truck hit the railing. The injured, including the truck's driver and helper, have been shifted to nearby hospitals, including the Shillong Civil Hospital, located in the district. Rescue and relief operations were still underway.

Meanwhile, at least eight people died and six others injured after a car fell into a gorge in the Pauri district of Uttarakhand.</s>An overspeeding truck rammed into the concrete barricade of the highway killing 16 passengers and leaving scores of others injured in the northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya.

The incident took place at about 8.30am local time on Sunday, 26 February near the mountainous village of Nongspung in the region known as West Khasi Hills.

The vehicle was thought to be overcrowded carrying more than 70 people, mostly churchgoers.

Onlookers were quoted as saying the vehicle was speeding more than the travel limit at that point though authorities are yet to throw light on the possible cause of the incident.

"Preliminary investigations show that the accident took place due to rash driving. The truck was carrying nearly 70 people from three nearby villages, all of whom were heading to church," West Khasi Hills superintendent of police, Sylvester Nongtnger was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.

The exact number of passengers on the vehicle is yet to be ascertained.

Most of the passengers were thrown into a deep gorge after the driver lost control of the truck. Relief measures are already on and emergency personnel have been deployed at the site.

"Twelve people died on the spot and four others succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. Nearly 50 others are injured. The driver also sustained grievous injuries," added Nongtnger. All the injured have been taken to a nearby government hospitals for treatment.
16 people dead in northern India after a truck carrying villagers to church overturned on a mountain road.