Bus drives off bridge into canal in central India; 40 dead

NEW DELHI — An overcrowded bus drove off a bridge and into a canal in central India on Tuesday, killing at least 40 people, an official said.

Six people were rescued after the accident in Madhya Pradesh state, District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Choudhary said.

He said more than 46 people were on board the bus, which was designed for 34.

Rescuers recovered 40 bodies and were searching for other passengers. The water supply to the canal was cut to aid the rescue effort.

The bus was travelling from Sidhi district to Satna district when the accident occurred. Officials were investigating the cause.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences to families of the victims and called the accident “horrific.”

Police say more than 110,000 people are killed every year in road accidents across India. Most crashes are blamed on reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and aging vehicles.

The Associated Press