At least six people were killed, and seven others were injured in the accident that occurred on Bhanupratappur-Dallirajhara Road in Balod district on Chhattisgarh in the early hours of Monday, December 16.
According to the news agency ANI, the road accident took place near Chourhapawad under Dondi Police station limits when an SUV coming from the opposite side was hit by a truck, leaving six dead on the spot and seven injured people were rushed to the Rajnandgaon Medical College and hospital for treatment.
Additional Superintendent of Police Ashok Joshi said the accused truck fled the scene after the accident, and a search for him is underway.
"The vehicle collided head-on with the truck. Of the 13 occupants of the SUV, six died on the spot, while seven others suffered serious injuries," a police official here said. The deceased have been identified as Durpat Prajapati (30), four women - Sumitra Bai Kumbhkar (50), Manisha Kumbhkar (35), Sagun Bai Kumbhkar (50) and Imla Bai (55) - and minor boy Jignesh Kumbhkar (7).
The seven injured persons, including five women and a child, were shifted to a local community health centre from where they were referred to Rajnandgaon district hospital for further medication.