21 killed, 12 injured after vehicle carrying marriage party falls off a bridge in India

NEW DELHI – At least 21 people were killed and 12 others injured after a mini-truck carrying members of marriage party fell from a bridge in central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, police said Wednesday. 

The accident took place Tuesday night over the Sone river in Sidhi district about 573 km east of Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh. 

"Last night 21 people were killed and 12 others injured when a mini-truck carrying marriage party fell off a bridge over the Sone river here," Dilip Kumar, Sidhi district collector said. "The injured have been admitted to the district hospital and condition of three is stated to be critical." 

Authorities said the rescue work has been completed. 

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has expressed deep sorrow over the accident and announced an assistance of 3,045 U.S. dollars to each family that lost kin in the accident. 

Police have registered a case and ordered investigations to ascertain reason behind the accident. 

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

An official report says on an average 400 deaths take place every day in India due to road accidents.Enditem 
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