Gorakhpur, Nov 10 (IANS): At least six people were killed while 27 others suffered injuries after a speeding truck rammed into a stationary bus from rear on Gorakhpur-Kushinagar highway near Jagdishpur.

The injured were rushed to the district hospital and medical college with the help of five ambulances. Some are said to be in a critical condition.

The deceased have been identified as Shailesh Patel, Suresh Chauhan, Nitesh Singh and Himanshu Yadav, while the identities of two have not yet been ascertained.

Police circle officer, Cantonment, Manush Pareek, said that prima facie, a bus was coming from Gorakhpur and was on its way towards Parauna with passengers.

"A tyre of the bus got punctured near Mallapur in Jagdishpur. The driver parked the bus on the side of the road and the conductor called another bus to carry passengers to their destinations," he said.

Some passengers boarded another bus that arrived from Gorakhpur, while others were alighting to board the bus and many passengers were standing between two buses, the officer added.

In the meantime, a speeding truck came and hit the bus in which many passengers were already on board. The collision was so powerful that six people died on the spot.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Gorakhpur, Gaurav Grover, said that efforts were under way to nab the errant driver. He escaped, leaving the truck after the collision.