New Delhi - At least 15 pilgrims were killed when the van they were travelling in collided with a small truck in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, a news report said.

The accident occurred near the Tirunelveli area, 550 kilometres south of state capital Chennai, when the group was returning from visiting a temple in the neighbouring district, the NDTV network reported.

Police said that while 13 people died on the scene, two victims succumbed to their injuries at a state-run hospital in Tirunelveli. Five wounded passengers were being treated at the hospital.

Road accidents take a high toll of lives in India. India accounts for some 10 per cent of the 1.2 million fatal road accidents worldwide each year.

Crashes claimed over 130,000 lives in India in 2007, overtaking China where deaths resulting from car accidents dropped to 90,000 the same year. (dpa)