Vehicle carrying pilgrims to shrine near Sawai Madhopur swerves off bridge and plunges into Banas river

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

At least 33 people have died in the western Indian state of Rajasthan after a bus swerved off a bridge and plunged into a river, according to local police.

Seven others were injured and taken to hospital in Sawai Madhopur district, 235 miles (375km) south of Delhi.

The bus had been trying to overtake another vehicle when it careered into the barrier and fell 20 metres into the Banas river.

The driver’s body is reportedly among the 33 so far accounted for. Unconfirmed reports in the Hindustan Times claimed that an untrained minor was at the wheel at the time of the crash.

Local television footage showed rescue workers in waist-deep water pulling bodies from the semi-submerged bus.

The bus, which had reportedly departed from Sawai Madhopur station, crashed around 7am (2330 on Friday GMT).

The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, tweeted:

PMO India (@PMOIndia) Anguished by the bus accident in Rajasthan's Sawai Madhopur district. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased. State Government is closely monitoring the situation, including rescue operations and providing all possible assistance to those affected: PM @narendramodi

Rajasthan’s chief minister, Vasundhara Raje, said she had instructed local officials to provide immediate assistant to all those affected.

More than 110,000 people die in road accidents each year in India, the highest toll in the world. Driver fatigue, negligence, and poorly maintained roads and vehicles cause many crashes.