Death toll of India bus accident rises to 42

The death toll in a bus accident in India's western state of Gujarat has risen to 42, India's official broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) said Saturday.

The ill-fated bus belonging to State Road Transport Corporation plunged into Purna River on Friday evening near Supa village in Navsari district, about 302 km south of Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat.

Officials said the bus packed with people was carrying 68 passengers at the time of accident.

Reports said the dead include 21 women and five children.

Preliminary investigation by police revealed the bus took a sharp turn on a bridge over river while trying to avoid collision with another vehicle coming from the opposite direction.

"The driver lost control over the bus while taking a sharp curve and hit the railing of the bridge, before plunging into 20-feet river," a government official said.

More than 20 people injured in the accident have been admitted in various hospitals of the state.

According to the broadcaster, the Gujarat government has announced a cash relief of 5,893 U.S. dollars to each family that lost member in the deadly accident, besides taking responsibility of medical treatment of the injured.

"Chief Minister Anandiben Patel has announced the compensation of INR 400,000 (5,893 U.S. dollars) to the kin of each deceased and State Government has taken all responsibility of medical treatment of all injured passengers," AIR said.

Last month, nine people were killed and two others injured critically after a speeding coal laden truck collided head on with a passenger van in India's Odhisa state.

Deadly road accidents are common in India, often caused due to overloading, bad condition of roads and reckless driving.

Global Road Safety Report - 2015 released by WHO last year said India accounts for more than 200,000 deaths annually due to road accidents. Endit