Image for representationTwenty two pilgrims, including six children, were killed on Saturday when the multi utility vehicle (MUV) they were travelling in fell into Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh, police said. The accident took place in East Godavari district when the vehicle fell off Dowleswaram bridge across the river in the early hours of the day. The dead, all relatives, include nine women and six children. Major accident near Rajamundhry Devaleshwaram barrage. 21 suspected dead. First pictures from scene. pic.twitter.com/Ynepz9W25Y — ANI (@ANI_news) June 13, 2015The rescue workers saved a 13-year-old child. The victims from Achutapuram village of Visakhapatnam district were returning after a pilgrimage to Tirupati. A police officer said the vehicle hit parapet wall before falling into the river at a depth of 25 to 30 feet. As there was no water, almost all people died on the spot due to the impact of the crash. "The driver appeared to have lost control. The Toofan type van fell into the river after hitting the pavement and the wall," Rajahmundry urban Superintendent of Police S. Hari Krishna told reporters at the accident scene.Van plunged into River Godavari. Dead bodies sent to a hospital in Rajamundhry. pic.twitter.com/dqzAYftBz9 — ANI (@ANI_news) June 13, 2015While 21 people, including driver died on the spot, one person succumbed at the hospital. Police said negligence led to the accident. The vehicle was carrying 23 people as against its capacity of 12. Police received the information about the accident around 5 a.m. The accident is believed to have occurred after midnight.Senior police and civil officials rushed to the scene and launched the rescue operation. District collector H. Arun Kumar was supervising the rescue work. Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister N. Chinnarajappa visited the accident scene. He said it was a clear case of negligence by the driver. "He was either dozing off or was driving very fast," he said.With IANS