From correspondents in India, 12:00 AM IST

Three children died and three others were critically injured Friday evening when a car ran over them in Ghaziabad, the police said.

A man, identified as Nawab, was returning from Friday prayers with his three children and his brother's kids when they stopped to take water from a tubewell in Farooque Nagar locality under Loni police station.

While they were standing on the roadside, a Tata safari, driven by an allegedly drunk driver ran over them and fell into a ditch. Three children died on the spot, while three others are struggling for their lives in Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital at Delhi, a police official said.

The deceased were identified as Rashid, 5, Muskan, 6, and Samad, 5.

Circle Officer C.P. Singh said the driver was arrested and two bottles of whisky, empty glasses and bottled water were found in the car.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)