1 killed, 15 injured in truck-buses collision in eastern India

At least one person has been killed and 15 others injured in a road accident in the eastern Indian state of Odisha Wednesday, police said.

"The accident occurred this morning when a speeding truck collided with two private passenger buses near Talnagar in the state's Balasore district," a police official said.

While one passenger of a bus died on the spot, the injured have been admitted to Balasore Hospital, where the condition of two are said to be serious, he said.

"The victims included passengers of the two buses, while the driver of the truck fled the spot after the incident," the official said.

Both the buses were going to the neighboring state of West Bengal's capital Kolkata from Odisha and the accident occurred after the truck driver lost control of the vehicle, he said.

A probe has been ordered into the incident, the official added.

India has the highest number of road fatalities in the world. Road accidents occur mostly due to poor driving or badly maintained roads and vehicles.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)