Sidhi: At least eight people died and a minimum of 12 sustained grievous injuries when a speeding cement-laden truck plowed into three stationary buses late Friday on the Sidhi-Rewa road in this district’s Churhat Police Station limits.

Those present on the scene put the death toll at 12 but the officially confirmed figure was eight.

Those hurt were rushed to infirmaries in Churhat, Sidhi and Rewa.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan himself reached the spot and gathered inputs from the Collector, SP and others.

The vehicles were carrying villagers back from Union Home Affairs and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah’s programme in adjoining Satna district. Shah also expressed grief over the loss of life.

The buses were halted in the Mohania Tunnel area when the accident occurred. One vehicle overturned owing to the sheer impact of the lorry heading here from Rewa.

(With UNI inputs)