NEW DELHI, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed and seven others critically injured after a tourist bus plunged into a river in the southern Indian state of Kerala Tuesday, police said.
The accident occurred near Thalassery, some 450 km from state capital Thiruvananthapuram.
"The tourist bus, carrying 15 people, including a driver and a conductor, fell into Peringathur river after its driver lost control of the speeding vehicle and rammed the railing of the bridge," a senior police officer said.
While three bodies have been fished out of water, and seven others were rescued by locals, some passengers managed to swim to safety.
"The injured have been rushed to a nearby government hospital, where their conditions are said to be critical," the officer said.
Eye-witnesses told the police that the bus was travelling at high speed even on the bridge over the river, leading to the accident.
"The driver sustained injuries but the conductor is among those dead, apart from two tourists. A probe has been ordered into the incident and we will arrest the driver for rash driving once he's out of hospital," the officer said.
India has the highest number of road fatalities in the world. Road accidents occur mostly due to poor driving or badly maintained roads or vehicles.
