At least 15 people -- heading for a funeral -- were dead when the vehicle carrying them and the mortal remains of the dead rammed into a stationary truck in West Bengal's Nadia district early today.

A police officer said the mini truck, carrying over 35 people and the bier, hit a stone-laden truck parked on one side of a state highway in Hanskhali at around 3am local time, killing 12 on the spot, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Local people and the police shifted the injured to a hospital where three others succumbed to their injuries.

According to the police officer, low visibility due to fog may have led to the accident.

One of those injured said he and others were heading to Nabadwip cremation ground from Chakdah.