State transport bus falls off Buldhana bridge, school kids among dead

At least 17 people were killed and many more trapped when a state transport bus plunged into the Poorna river in Maharashtra's Buldhana district on Wednesday, police said.

The bus was on a regular Shegaon-Paturda service carrying around 45 passengers, including several school students. Reportedly, there are school children among the dead.

Around 11 am, the bus was on the Khiroda bridge when it suddenly plunged into the swirling waters below. The cause of the accident was not immediately known. Local villagers managed to rescue at least 20 people. Rescue and relief operations were continuing.

Buldhana, famous for its crater created by a meteorite hit, the Lonar Lake, is situated around 550 km east of Mumbai.