Two road accidents in Gaya and Madhepura districts on Sunday claimed eight lives and left 18 others injured.

The condition of five persons is stated to be critical.

In Gaya, at least four persons died and six others suffered injuries when the autorickshaw they were travelling in rammed into a speeding truck on National Highway 83 near Govind canal around 9am.

The injured were admitted to a primary health centre at Dobhi. The dead have been identified as Manju Devi, Pinki Devi, Anil Yadav and Rajesh Manjhi, all residents of Dobhi.

Residents protested at the accident site leading to a traffic snarl for over three hours. Sherghati sub-divisional police officer Upendra Kumar said a sum of Rs 1.5 lakh would be provided to the deceased's next of kin.

In Madhepura, three persons were killed and 12 others injured when the tractor they were travelling in overturned into a roadside ditch.

The injured have been admitted to the Madhepura Sadar hospital.