Thirteen Shravan devotees were injured - three of them seriously - when the pickup van they were travelling in overturned in Dalma, 25km from Jamshedpur, on Monday.

The residents of Uliyan, Kadma, who were returning after Somvari puja at the Shiv temple on the hills, were rushed to MGM Medical College and Hospital in Sakchi, from where 10 including three children were released after first aid.

Those admitted have been identified as Ritesh Kumar (48), Durua Sahu (45) and Manorama Devi (50). While Ritesh has sustained internal chest injuries, the women have received head injuries.

According to the victims, their van was at a moderate speed, but the driver lost control while negotiating a sharp bend near Astha village, a kilometre from Bodam thana, around 10am.

"The van flipped on its left and those sitting on the edges received maximum injuries because they were buried under others. Fortunately, the children were sitting on the right side and hence, they escaped with minor bruises," said Sumit Mahto, one of the passengers who had a close shave.

Bodam thana OC R. Ranjan said the accident victims were rescued by passers-by. "We came to know later. It is being investigated if the driver was at fault," he said, adding that MGM camp police were recording statements.

The temple is around 4km from the Dalma foothills and vehicles are required to negotiate hairpin curves at many places. Dalma range officer R.P. Singh said usually vehicles were not allowed on the hills during peak monsoon because the meandering roads tend to get slippery.

"But this year, Dalma has not received adequate rainfall yet. So, the road leading to the Shiva temple is still motorable," Singh added.