4 killed, 3 injured in India tanker fire

At least four people were killed and three others injured on Tuesday after a chemical-laden tanker met an accident in India's southwestern state of Maharashtra, officials said, reported Xinhua.

The accident occurred on Mumbai-Pune expressway. According to police, the chemical tanker ignited spewing flames on motorists travelling on the road. The leaked chemicals from the tanker also caught fire and aggravated the situation.

"It is very unfortunate that four people were killed in an accident on Mumbai-Pune highway," Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said. "Three people were injured in this accident and they are undergoing treatment in hospital."

Immediately after the accident fire fighters and police teams reached the spot and doused the flames.

The cause of the accident was not immediately known.

Deadly road accidents are common in India, often caused by overloading, bad condition of roads and reckless driving.