India, Oct. 18 -- Eight MGNREGA workers were killed on Sunday when a speeding car hit them while they were resting and drinking water along the Jakhal-Lehra road near Alisher village in Sangrur district, Punjab.

Of the deceased, six were women and two were men. The driver of the Chevrolet Magnum car has been identified as Pargat Singh, a resident of Raidhrana village, and was arrested hours after the incident, police said.

Police also said that all the deceased belonged to Alisher village, while the 12 injured were receiving treatment at various hospitals, including Sangrur Civil Hospital, and hospitals in Patiala and Lehragaga.

Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Poonamdeep Kaur said the district administration was taking all necessary steps ...