Patna/Gaya, Feb. 13: A total of 17 persons died while more than 25 suffered injuries in two different road accidents at Rohtas and Gaya districts early this morning.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each for the kin of the deceased and free treatment for the injured.

In the first incident near Auwa village, 11 persons, including a four-year-old child, died and around 13 were injured after the tractor they were travelling in was hit by a vehicle around 3am.

Rohtas superintendent of police (SP) Manavjeet Singh Dhillon said: "All of them had gone to a Shiv temple at Gupta Dham to offer prayers. It seems that a truck, hit the tractor from behind. Residents rushed to help soon after the accident and the police was informed."

In Gaya, six people were killed and three critically injured when an SUV in which they were travelling dashed against a truck from the rear. The incident occurred around 3am at Manaini village on the Gaya-Nawada road.

The injured were admitted to Anugrah Narayan Medical College and Hospital. One of them was referred to Patna. The police said the victims were returning to Pakribarawan village in Nawada district after a tilak (pre-wedding ritual) ceremony at Wazirganj Bazaar when the incident occurred.

Gaya additional superintendent of police (ASP) Baliram Kumar Chaudhary said: "The bodies have been sent for post-mortem to ANMCH."