Nine killed in road accident near Ghaziabad

Ghaziabad, May 28 (IANS) At least nine people were killed and five, including four children, injured in a road accident near Ghaziabad Wednesday, police said.

The incident occurred around 4.30 a.m. on national highway-24, about 30 km from Delhi near Pilkhuwa town near Ghaziabad.

Police said 14 people from a Ghaziabad family along with their Delhi-based relatives were returning after attending a ceremony at Brijghat.

The injured people told police their car was hit by a vehicle from the front, and a speeding vehicle which was following it also hit the car from behind. However, both the vehicles sped away.

A police patrol later reached the accident site and rushed the injured to a hospital where nine people were declared dead. Four were still undergoing treatment.

The deceased were identified as Harbir (39), his wife Sheela (37), their daughters Priyanka (22), Rinki (21) and Lavi (12). Harbir's brother Mukesh (50) and his wife Geeta (47) also died. Another couple from Delhi also lost their lives.