Malappuram | Two persons were killed and 20 others injured when a tempo van collided with a tipper lorry in this district in the wee hours of Saturday, police said.

The deceased were identified as Raju(38), the driver of the tempo van, and Remani (65), a passenger. Both were natives of Palakkad.

Police officials at Kondotty police station said that there were around 25 passengers in the van, which was returning from a pilgrimage.

The accident occurred on the Kozhikode-Palakkad State Highway near Pullikkal, Periyambalam, at around 12.30 am, officials said.

According to police, heavy rain was reported in the area when the tempo van rammed into the tipper lorry.

Residents rushed to the spot and began rescue operations soon after the incident.

The injured were shifted to hospitals in Malappuram and Kozhikode districts.

Although Raju and Remani were rushed to a hospital, they succumbed to their injuries.

As many as 16 passengers of the tempo van have been admitted to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, and their condition is stable, officials said.

The driver of the tipper lorry and three others travelling in the vehicle have been admitted to a private hospital in Kondotty, police added.

Kondotty police have started an investigation into the accident.