Jalna: 14 pilgrims crushed by a speeding truck

Jalna, Maharashtra:  There is tension in Maharashtra's Jalna district after at least 14 pilgrims died and 25 were injured after a speeding truck lost control and rammed into a religious procession.

A curfew has been imposed in the area after one person died in police firing. The cops had opened fire after angry protesters torched seven vehicles, including the abandoned truck. The driver of the truck is absconding.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has announced a compensation of Rs. 1 lakh to the next of kin of the pilgrims who died.

"The accident took place on Ambad-Beed road. The driver lost control of the truck and crushed the Warkaris (pilgrims walking in a procession to Pandharpur)," an official from Ambad police station said.

"We are in the process of identifying those dead and injured. The dead bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination," the official added.