KATIHAR, April 12 -- Thirteen people were killed and over 20 were injured after a speeding pickup van collided with a bus on national highway (NH) 31 in Bihar's Katihar district on Saturday evening, police said. The accident took place near Basgarha village under Korha police station around 6.30pm, Katihar superintendent of police Shikhar Choudhary told reporters. Confirming the deaths, SP Choudhary said, "Right now identification of the victims is going on and the injured have been rushed to government medical College and hospital in Purnea." In a statement issued later, the district police said all those injured have been taken to the nearest government hospital in Purnea. Officials are trying to ascertain the identity of the deceased, the statement further said. While initial reports said seven people died in the accident, six of the injured succumbed during treatment. Police said the toll may increase as several injured are critical. According to a police report , the pickup van was very crowded with over two dozen passengers who were returning from Jharkhand to their homes in Katihar district when it collided with a bus while overtaking it. An officer said they have seized both the vehicles and a probe is on ascertain the cause of the accident and . Chief minister Nitish Kumar announced an ex gratia of Rs.2 lakh to kin of each the deceased, and Rs.50,000 to each injured....