NEW DELHI, June 25 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed and six others injured in a road accident in the southern Indian state of Telangana Monday, police said.

"The accident occurred when a car collided head-on with an auto-rickshaw near Panchala village in the state's Ranga Reddy district," a police official said.

While five people died from the crash, those injured have been admitted to a local hospital, he said. "The victims were occupants of both the vehicles," the official said.

Eye-witnesses told cops that the car was travelling at high speed and hit the auto-rickshaw coming from the opposite direction while overtaking another vehicle.

A probe has been ordered into the accident, the official said. "A case of rash and negligent driving has been lodged against the car driver," he added.

India has the highest number of road fatalities in the world. Road accidents occur mostly due to poor driving or badly maintained roads and vehicles.