Lakhimpur Kheri, Aug. 18 -- At least eight labourers from Lakhimpur Kheri district were killed and 23 others injured after a speeding pickup van carrying them collided head-on with an incoming truck in Madhya Pradesh's Bhind district early Tuesday, police said.

The labourers were returning home to Lakhimpur Kheri after completing a fortnight-long contract to plant paddy saplings in Chinaur village of Bhind district. Five of the deceased were from Bela Tursiya village, while the others were from Kishanpur Ajit and Harnaiya Narayanpur villages in Kheri and Shahjahanpur district.

The accident took place near Chhimka village under Gohad Chauraha police station limits on the Bhind-Gwalior National Highway (NH-719) when the pickup driver alle...