Truck accident leaves 30 dead in India’s western state

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) - At least 30 people were killed and over a dozen were injured after a truck carrying a wedding party fell off a bridge in India’s western state of Gujarat on Tuesday, police said.

Local police officials said the accident took place around 7.30 a.m. local time (0200GMT) near the Ranghola area of Bhavnagar district.

“30 people have died so far. We have admitted the injured passengers to the nearby hospitals,” A M Sayeed, a senior police official in the area, told Anadolu Agency over the phone.

He added the truck was carrying approximately 60 people.

The initial investigation suggested the driver was overtaking another vehicle when it fell into a dry riverbed, Sayeed said and added: “Legal action would be initiated against the driver of the vehicle.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the accident “extremely unfortunate and anguishing.”

“My condolences to all those who lost their loved ones due to an accident near Ranghola in Gujarat. The accident was extremely unfortunate and anguishing. May those who have been injured recover at the earliest,” the Prime Minister’s Office wrote in a tweet.