Two buried alive as van collides with sand-laden lorry

Two persons were buried alive and one injured when the van in which they were travelling collided with a sand-laden lorry near here today, police said.

The lorry turned sideways in the impact of the collision and the sand came crashing down on the other vehicle, they said.

Passers-by saw the three occupants struggling in the sand and informed police who used an earth-mover to remove it.

However, two persons suffocated to death while another was seriously injured, police said.

The injured person has been admitted to a nearby hospital.

The lorry driver ran away from the spot and a search is on for him, they added.