23 dead as vehicle overturns in north India (12:10 p.m.)
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
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LUCKNOW, India — At least 23 people were killed and 12 others injured when a vehicle overturned in northern India, police said Tuesday.
The accident took place late Monday night in Sitapur town, 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of state capital Lucknow, said Amitabh Yash, a senior police official.
He said about 70 people were packed into a wagon pulled by a tractor when the driver lost control of the vehicle while trying to overtake another vehicle.
The dead included 14 children, he said, adding that the injured, four of whom are in critical condition, are being treated at a local hospital.
Road accidents claim thousands of lives every year in India, and most are blamed on reckless driving, aging, poorly maintained vehicles and bad roads. Many passengers travel on makeshift, overcrowded transports. (AP)
