Mumbai, 18 May

(HS): At least 12 members of a marriage party died and 20 to 25 were injured as

the Eicher truck carrying about 100 members of the marriage party collided with

a container on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway. The accident occurred on

Sunday night near Dhaniwari village in Palghar district. The ill-fated Eicher truck

was carrying more than 100 people from Bapugaon in Dahanu Tehsil for an

engagement programme.

The collision

was so harsh that both the vehicles tilted causing heavy damage. Twelve dead

bodies were recovered from the truck. Among the injured some were critical. The

number of deaths may increase.

The traffic on

the road was blocked for several hours. Police cleared the traffic by removing

the vehicles involved in the accident using cranes.

Although the

cause of the accident was not ascertained, high speed was suspected to be the

reason.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar