The accident took place when 31 people were returning home in Luwari village of Jodhpur district after attending a religious function in Butati village.

The victims were taken to a nearby hospital here and doctors declared 22 of them as brought dead, the police said, a person died in the hospital.

The condition of three injured was stated to be serious.

The driver of the jeep, which was loaded beyond its capacity, lost control of the vehicle and had a head-on collision with the truck minutes after leaving Butati.

The truck driver was also injured.

District Magistrate S S Bissa announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 20,000 for the deceased.