At least 36 people were killed when a bus plunged into a river in Murshidabad, India’s West Bengal state early on Monday, according to a provincial minister.

The state-owned bus, with more than 50 passengers on board, fell nearly 10 meters off a bridge into the Bhairav River after the driver lost control of the vehicle, said West Bengal's Transport Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

The rescue work is still underway and an investigation into the incident has been launched.

(Top image: Asian News International)