1st LD Writethru: 30 injured as bus falls off bridge in central India

NEW DELHI, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- At least 30 people have been injured in a bus accident in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh Monday, police said.

"The accident occurred when a bus in which the victims were travelling fell off a bridge over Jamni river in Tikamgarh area of the state this morning," a police official said.

All the injured have been admitted to a nearby government hospital, where the condition of four are said to be critical, he said.

The bus, carrying some 30 people, including a driver and a conductor, was heading to Jhansi district from Tikamgarh when the incident took place.

Eye-witnesses told cops the accident occurred as the driver of the bus lost control of the vehicle which was travelling at high speed.

"A probe has been ordered into the incident. We will arrest the driver once he is out of hospital," the official added.

India has the highest number of road fatalities in the world. Road accidents occur mostly due to poor driving or badly maintained roads and vehicles. Enditem