Eleven people have reportedly died and several others have been left critically injured after a bus collided with a tanker trailer on Wednesday on the Barmer-Jodhpur highway in India's Rajasthan state.
Video clips of the bus, showing the vehicle ablaze with thick plumes of black smoke billowing up from it, were posted by some social media users.
“The accident took place in Barmer District, leading to the immediate death of nine passengers. Another person died in the tanker trailer and the last succumbed to his injuries in hospital,” the United News of India press agency quoted police official Deepak Bhargava as saying to reporters.
According to the initial investigation, there were at least 28 passengers on the bus although some media reports have said there were 25 people.
Rajasthan State Chief Ashok Gehlot took to Twitter and said that he has directed the officials to take all action necessary.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sent his condolences to the families of the deceased and announced an ex-gratia payment of INR200,000 ($2,700) for the families of the deceased and INR50,000 ($672) for those who have been injured.