Further investigations are underway.
Eleven people were killed after a bus collided with an SUV in Madhya Pradesh's Betul late on Thursday night, police said.
According to the police, 11 people were on their way back from Amravati in Maharashtra when the accident took place at around 2 am near Jhallar police station between Gudgaon and Bhaisdehi. The driver of the SUV dozed off before it rammed into a bus. Three women, a 5-year-old girl and a toddler were among the 11 killed in the crash.
Seven bodies were taken out immediately but the vehicle had to be carved to get the remaining bodies out, Betul senior police officer Simala Prasad said.
Primary investigation suggests that the SUV rammed into the bus after its driver dozed off, police said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the accident and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to each of the victims' families.
"Pained by the loss of lives due to an accident in Betul, MP. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. Rs. 50,000 would be given to the injured," PM Modi tweeted.