SHILLONG, Feb 26 - Seventeen people were killed and 62 others were injured, some grievously, when an overspeeding truck with these ill-fated passengers overturned near Nongspung village, West Khasi Hills district in Meghalaya at 8:30 am today.
Twelve persons died on the spot, while five others passed away at the Nongstoin Civil Hospital in the district. Among the dead were eight men, seven women and one child. The majority of the injured have been rushed to Nongstoin Civil Hospital, while some others are recuperating in nearby hospitals.
According to police, the truck was overspeeding and the driver lost control, resulting in the vehicle turn over and subsequently it hit the retaining wall of the road. The impact of the accident catapulted the passengers out of the open truck into a deep gorge adjacent to the road.
�Most of the death occurred after passengers fell into the deep gorge,� Sylvester Nongtnger, Superintendent of Police, West Khasi Hills district, said over the phone. �The accident was caused due to the negligence of the driver,� he said, adding, the driver escaped the mishap with minor injuries and is now in police custody.
The SP said the passengers in the truck were villagers from Nginiong village in the district and they were all heading to a church service at the Meghalaya-Assam border. �There was a church synod at Nonglang-Langpih where these villagers were headed to. It is a big church service in which an estimated 70,000 faithfuls have congregated,� Nongtnger said.
