Aurangabad/Patna: Three tourists from Andhra Pradesh were killed and more than 22 others injured after a tourist bus travelling from Bodh Gaya to Varanasi crashed into a parked truck in  Aurangabad district shortly after midnight on Sunday.
The accident took place at around 12.30am near Bhawani Line Hotel in the Mufassil police station area, according to police.
Victims identified
Mufassil police station SHO Ashok Kumar said the deceased were identified as Soma Padma, 42, wife of Soma Prasad, Pashupuleti Venkatesh, 64, and Chavadam Hazrat Theta, 61. All were residents of Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh.
Injured referred for advanced treatment
More than 22 passengers sustained injuries in the collision. Police said 15 of them were seriously injured.
The injured were initially treated at Aurangabad Sadar Hospital. Those in critical condition were later referred to Magadh Medical College and Hospital in Gaya for specialised treatment.
Hospital authorities said 22 injured passengers received medical care at the district hospital.
Tour group was on a 15-day pilgrimage
According to police, the bus was travelling at high speed when it hit the stationary truck from behind.
Soma Prasad, a passenger who survived the crash, told authorities that the group had left Nellore on June 1 for a 15-day tour. Their itinerary included Jagannath Puri in Odisha, Baidyanath Dham, Bodh Gaya and Varanasi.
The accident occurred while the group was travelling from Bodh Gaya towards Varanasi.
