NEW DELHI, July 3 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed and eight others injured Tuesday after an auto-rickshaw collided with a dumper truck in southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, police said.

The accident took place near Samarlakota in East Godavari district, about 245 km northeast of Amaravathi, the main city of Andhra Pradesh.

"Today in an accident a dumper truck rammed into an auto rickshaw carrying 16 people, killing six people and injuring eight others," a police official said.

Following the accident, locals and police carried out the rescue work and removed the injured to government general hospital in Kakinada, witnesses said.

Police have registered a case and ordered investigations into the accident.

Reports said following the accident driver of the dumper truck fled from the scene after parking the vehicle away from the accident spot.

According to police, the passengers in the auto rickshaw were returning from a marriage party.

The chief minister of Andhra Pradesh has expressed grief over the deaths in the accident.

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

Officials say on average over 400 deaths take place every day in India due to road accidents.