Surendranagar (Gujarat) | Seven persons were killed and four suffered injuries after being run over by a speeding truck on a roadside in Gujarat's Surendranagar district in the wee hours of Monday, police said.

The incident occurred on the Lakhtar-Viramgam highway at around 1.30 am when a group of pilgrims was walking from Rajkot to Bahucharaji as part of a procession to offer prayers at a temple, Lakhtar police inspector Yogesh Patel said.

A recklessly driven truck ran over the devotees on the outskirts of Bhaskarpara village in Lakhtar taluka of the district. Six pilgrims and the driver of a dumper parked on the roadside were killed, he said, adding that the deceased included four women.

"The pilgrims were walking when they met with the accident. They had set out on foot to offer prayers at a temple in Bahucharaji when they were hit by a truck coming at full speed from behind," he said.

Six persons died on the spot and one succumbed at a hospital in Viramgam. Four others sustained injuries, in-charge Superintendent of Police Vedika Bihani said.

The truck, loaded with cotton, was on its way from Rajkot, the official said.

"A group of 500 pilgrims was walking towards Chharad village, where they were planning a night halt, when they were hit by the truck. They tried to cross the (dumper) truck parked on the roadside when they met with the accident. Six persons died on the spot," she said.

"Another person died at Gandhi Hospital in Viramgam during treatment. Three persons sustained minor injuries, while another injured person was referred to a Rajkot hospital," the police officer said.

The truck driver, identified as Aditya Uganiya, fled after the accident, but was later taken into police custody, she added.