DHAKA: A Swaziland rights group says 38 girls and young women were killed in a road crash while travelling to a famous traditional festival, abcnews reported.

The Swaziland Solidarity Network said in a statement on Saturday that about 20 others were injured when the truck they were in collided with another vehicle on Friday.

The truck smashed into the back of a van and was then hit in the rear by another truck.

The women were on their way to the Swazi king's royal residence for the annual reed dance.

A government website says about 40,000 girls and young women participate in the eight-day ceremony each year in which they bring reeds to reinforce the windbreak around the royal residence.

BDST: 1624 HRS, AUG 29, 2015
RS