17 killed as jeep collides with truck in Rajasthan

Seventeen persons were killed when their jeep collided with a truck in Rajasthan's Hanumangarh district on Friday, police said.

The mishap occurred in Hanumangarh town police station area on Rawatsar-Hanumangarh mega-highway. The ill-fated jeep was on its way to a nearby town with the passengers.

The bodies have been shifted to a local hospital where the autopsies are going on, SHO Anwar Khan said.

Rajasthan Transport Minister Yunus Khan conveyed his condolence to family members of the victims of road mishap that claimed 17 lives.

"It is a sad incident," said the minister adding "People should avoid travelling in unauthorised transport vehicles."

"We will soon act against people promoting unauthorised vehicles on roads," he said.

The district administration, meanwhile, announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 50,000 each to the kin of road mishap victims. Following the accident and mandatory autopsy, the police handed over the bodies of 16 victims to their family members.