17 killed when bus plunges into river in India

Locals and rescuers search for survivors after a bus fell into the Purna River in the Buldhana district of Maharashtra state, about 650 kilometers (400 miles) north of state capital Mumbai, India, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012. Police say 17 people died when the bus they were traveling in plunged into the river in western India. India has the world's highest road death toll, with more than 110,000 people dieing in road accidents each year.

Photo by Associated Press /Chattanooga Times Free Press.

NEW DELHI — Police say 17 people died when the bus they were traveling in plunged into a river in western India.

The bus was crossing the Purna river in the Buldhana district of Maharashtra state Wednesday morning when the accident took place. The area is 650 kilometers (400 miles) north of state capital Mumbai.

Head Constable Surendra Mahaske says at least 10 passengers were injured. The cause was not immediately clear because the driver was among those killed. Mahaske says the bus had at least 40 passengers and villagers helped the survivors out of the river.

India has the world’s highest road death toll. More than 110,000 people die in road accidents there each year.