At least 17 people traveling in a lorry were killed late on Sunday night as the vehicle turned turtle.
The mishap occurred at Kathripallam village in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri district as the driver of the lorry, with 80 people, apparently lost control over the vehicle while negotiating a sharp curve in the hilly terrain, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Salem range) Alexander Mohan said.
Those traveling in the lorry were returning to Krishnagiri and nearby places after attending a funeral on the banks of the river Cauvery at Anjatty in the district, he said.
Since the mishap took place in a remote area, rescue operations were delayed.
Seventeen bodies, including that of two women, were recovered till Monday morning, he said, adding, the toll was likely to rise.
The injured were admitted to various hospitals in Thenkanikottai and Hosur and in Bangalore, Mohan said.
Krishnagiri District Collector Santhosh Babu and Superintendent of Police Thenmozhi were supervising the rescue operations.
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