Three people were killed and several others were injured when a speeding truck on National Highway 16 reportedly lost control and veered onto the sidewalk and crashed into several shops, police said on Sunday.

According to the police, the accident occurred on Saturday night in Siddha Bazar, Panshkura in Purba Medinipur.

The police said that according to witnesses, the truck travelling at a high speed, overturned an iron barricade before plowing into the marketplace. The impact was so severe that three individuals were killed instantly and many others including employees and customers were seriously injured. The injured have been taken to a hospital for treatment, police said.

According to the police, the locals alleged that the truck driver and his assistant were intoxicated, which may have contributed to the crash.

Officials said that the Panshkura police have seized the truck and are working to identify the victims. The incident caused a significant traffic jam on the national highway, which was cleared by police after they removed the truck and the bodies.