The pilgrims were returning after paying obeisance at the Naina Devi shrine in Himachal Pradesh when the mishap took place, official sources said in Chandigarh.
Most of the victims were stated to be residents of Ghumana village in Machhiwara area of Ludhiana district, who had set out on a pilgrimage of various shrines on Saturday last.
While 21 people died on the spot, three succumbed to injuries on way to hospital. The sources said that 65 of the injured were admitted to a government hospital at Anandpur Sahab while 10 others who were seriously injured were referred to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh.
The driver fled from the spot of the accident, sources added.
