PATNA (India) - A SPEEDING bus ran over villagers watching a movie adjacent to a national highway in eastern India early on Thursday, killing 14 and seriously wounding 18 others, police said.

The accident occurred in the eastern state of Bihar, when the driver of the bus lost control of the vehicle and crashed into dozens of villagers celebrating a Hindu festival, they said.

'We have seized the bus, but we are still looking for the driver who fled from the scene,' Mr Suman Kumar, a police officer said.

Angry villagers later blocked the highway for hours to protest against the rash driving. -- REUTERS