Patna, Oct 11 (IANS) At least 12 people died and about two dozen were injured Friday night when a tractor-trolley carrying them from a temple overturned and slammed into a roadside ditch in Bihar's Saharsa district.

A district police official said the accident occurred near Sukhasan village in Saharsa, about 200 km from here. Most of the victims were women.

"About 40 people were returning on a tractor-trolley to their village after visiting a temple during the ongoing Durga Puja," the official said.

Unconfirmed reports said 15 people died.

All the injured were admitted to a government hospital.

The district administration has launched rescue and relief operations, officials said.