Near Tirupati, Truck Driver Runs Into Pole, Hits Crowd, Some Electrocuted

Vijayawada: At least 13 people have died after a truck hit an electric pole and then ran into a group of demonstrators gathered outside a police station in the temple town of Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.

11 of those killed were electrocuted, said a senior police official. 24 people were also  injured in the accident that took place.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted this evening, "Pained by the loss of lives due to an accident in AP's Chittoor dist. Condolences to families of the deceased & prayers with the injured."

There are unconfirmed reports that the driver was drunk. The truck crushed 10 two-wheelers, two auto rickshaws and a police vehicle before hitting an electric pole and shops. Both the driver and his assistant escaped after the crash.

The speeding truck, which was headed from Hyderabad to Chennai, was carrying crushed stone.

The demonstrators, which included women, were demanding police action against an alleged sand mafia in the region.

The injured victims include two policemen.