Hyderabad, Aug 5 (IANS): Twelve labourers were killed and six others injured when a truck hit an overcrowded autorickshaw in Telangana's Mahabubnagar district on Sunday, police said.

The accident occurred near Kothapalle village in Midjil 'mandal' of Mahabubnagar, about 100 km from here.

The labourers were returning home after work when the autorickshaw carrying them was hit by a truck coming from the opposite direction.

Police said all the 12 were killed on the spot. Such was the impact of the collision that the autorickshaw was reduced to pieces. The body parts of the deceased were strewn around.

The injured were admitted to a government-run hospital in Mahabubnagar.

Following the accident, villagers staged a road blockade protesting the failure of authorities in checking the road accidents in the area. They said that the bad condition of the road was causing the accidents. They demanded compensation for the families of the victims.

Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao has expressed shock over the accident. He conveyed his heartfelt sympathies to the families of the victims and directed officials to ensure best medical facilities to the injured.