13 killed, 50 injured as bus falls off bridge in central India

At least 13 people were killed and more than 50 others injured in a major road mishap in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh late Wednesday night, a senior police official said Thursday.

"The incident happened when a luxury passenger bus in which the victims were travelling fell off a bridge and overturned near Daldhowa ghat in the state's Balrampur district around 10.30 p.m.(local time) Wednesday," he said, on condition of anonymity.

While 13 passengers were killed on the spot, those injured have been admitted to a local hospital where the condition of 16 are said to be serious, the official said, adding the death toll may go up later in the day.

Local TV channels reported, quoting eye-witnesses, that the mishap happened when the driver of the bus swerved at a sharp bend to avoid hitting a motorcycle that was coming from the opposite direction and then lost control of the vehicle.

"However, a probe has been ordered to ascertain the exact cause of the mishap and senior police officials are on the spot," the official added.

Source: XINHUA