In a tragic accident in Unnao on Sunday afternoon, a speeding truck ripped through one side of a bus after colliding head-on with it, killing six passengers and injuring over two dozen others.

The accident took place near Jamaldipur village on Hardoi-Unnao road in Safipur Kotwali police station area.

The police took the injured to the community health centre in Safipur from where they were referred to the district hospitals in Unnao and Kanpur after giving them first aid. The condition of many of the injured was said to be critical and the death toll may increase.

Circle Officer of Safipur Rishikant Shukla confirmed the death of six passengers in the accident. He said efforts were being made to ascertain the identities of those killed in the mishap. So far, only three passengers have been identified.

The bus was carrying 35 passengers, he added.

Reports said that the private bus going to Unnao from Bangarmau had reached near Jamaldipur village in Safipur Kotwali police station area when a speeding truck coming from the front collided head-on with it and ripped through its right side. All the passengers in the bus were injured and some of them died on the spot.

In another road accident reported from Hardoi, a 65-year-old man and his son were killed and six members of the family were injured when their car rammed into a tree in the Sawaijpur area of the district.

The injured were taken to the local community health centre from where they were referred to the district hospital.

Additional Superintendent of Police Martand Prakash Singh said the bodies had been sent for post-mortem.