At least 18 people were killed and 17 others injured when a truck overturned in Andhra Pradesh in the early hours of Monday, police said.

The accident took place near Gundepalli in West Godavari district, around 400 km from Hyderabad.

The labourers who had boarded the truck, which was on its way from Vijayawada to Visakhapatnam with fly ash, were buried under the material.

Police and locals rescued 17 people and shifted them to Rajahmundry hospital.

Police said the driver was apparently drowsy and lost control of the vehicle, which led to the accident.