At least 12 people were killed and four seriously injured when a bus plunged into a stream in India's north-eastern state of Assam on Sunday, DPA quoted police sources as saying. A police spokesman said the accident occurred near Sonapur, 25 kilometres east of state capital Guwahati. "The bus plunged into a stream nearly 30 feet after the driver lost control of the vehicle as it was crossing a bridge," P Nath, an officer at the Sonapur police post said over phone. "Twelve bodies were extricated by the rescue workers from under the wreckage. Four others who were seriously injured were taken to the nearby local hospital," he added. According to witnesses, there were about 19 people aboard the bus, Nath said. Police said rescue teams and divers would continue searching for the three missing passengers in the wreckage or in the stream. India has one of the worst road-safety records in the world and registers the highest number of road fatalities after China. Poorly maintained roads and vehicles, lack of road safety measures and violations of traffic rules are blamed for India's rash of accidents.
