India bus crash claims 16 lives

2012-05-19 37

The fiery remains of a bus in India.

At least 16 are dead after this bus carrying 60 pilgrims struck a stationary truck in Uttar Pradesh in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Survivors claim only a third of the passengers survived because the bus caught fire almost immediately.

(SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) RESHMA, A RESCUED PASSENGER, SAYING:

"60 to 70 people were going to Ajmer. The bus collided with a truck and burst into flames. The people were pleading for help and only 20 to 25 people have survived."

Officials are investigating the incident and are sending scores of injured to nearby hospitals.

The pilgrims were heading to a Sufi shrine as part of a religious fair.

Jessica Gray, Reuters