“It was a terrible sight,” said one eyewitness. “The driver suddenly swerved sharply to the left, apparently to avoid an animal on the road. He lost control, and the car went straight into the back of the truck.”

Emergency teams from Rishikesh Kotwali, Shyampur and IDPL police outposts rushed to the scene after receiving alerts from the control room. Rescue personnel used a heavy-duty crane to cut through the wreckage and extricate the victims.

All four occupants were taken to hospital, where doctors declared them dead on arrival.

Police have so far identified two of the deceased as Dheeraj Jaiswal (30) and Hariom (22), both residents of Rishikesh. Efforts are under way to establish the identities of the remaining two victims, while investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the high-speed collision.