The bus carrying some 40 passengers crashed on a highway near the village of Bawankera in the state of Chhattisgarh, about 65 kilometres (40 miles) from the state capital Raipur.
"At least nine (passengers) are in critical condition," state administrative official R. Shangeetha told AFP.
Deadly traffic accidents are common in India. Last month a speeding bus exploded into flames when it hit a highway barricade in southern India, burning 45 passengers to death.
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