India, Feb. 20 -- At least eight people were killed and 41 injured in two road accidents within an hour on Thursday morning on the Varanasi-Lucknow National Highway 731 in Jaunpur's Badlapur area, police said.

A police officer said that five of the injured passengers are critical and they have been referred to BHU Trauma Centre in Varanasi.

Around 1:30am, near Sarokhanpur village, an unknown vehicle hit an SUV carrying 11 pilgrims from Jharkhand, who were on their way to Ayodhya after visiting Baba Kashi Vishwanath.

"Five, including three women, and a five-year-old died on the spot while six others were injured. They were taken to a hospital," the officer said.

Meanwhile, around 2.15 am, a bus carrying 52 passengers collided with a tr...