At least 19 people were reportedly killed and several injured when a Volvo bus of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) on its way to Ernakulam from Bengaluru collided with a lorry at Avinashi in Tamil Nadu on Thursday.

According to preliminary reports, the incident took place at around 3.15am when the lorry, which was coming from the opposite direction, lost control while trying to overtake and rammed into the 48-seater bus.

Most of the deceased were from Kerala, including Thrissur, Palakkad and Ernakulam districts. The bus left Bengaluru at 8pm on Wednesday and was supposed to reach Ernakulam at 7am on Thursday, The News Minute reported.

Rescue operations are ongoing and transport minister AK Saseendran said injured passengers had been rushed to hospital. He further announced that the the families of those who lost their lives will be given Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia. An amount of Rs 2 lakh will be given to the families immediately.

Expressing his condolence, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed Palakkad district collector to provide all assistance to the injured and make arrangements to bring the bodies of the deceased.

In a statement, the chief minister said they were coordinating with the Tamil Nadu governemt and taking all action possible.