India, June 8 -- Three pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh died and 18 others were injured on Sunday in Bihar's Aurangabad district, police said.

According to police, the driver dozed off while the speeding bus rammed into a parked iron-rod-laden truck near an eatery on NH 19 under the Aurangabad Mufassil police station limits. Police said the accident happened around 12pm, leaving the bus mangled.

Among the three who died on the spot, two were women, police said. The deceased are identified as Chavadam Hajratya Theta (50), Padma (43) and Pulleti Venkateshwarulu (64), all from Sangam village in Nellor district.

Eighteen injured persons were rescued with the help of locals and admitted to Sadar Hospital at Aurangabad. Eight of them, all women,...