At least 18 people were killed and more than 30 injured when a double-decker bus rammed into a milk tanker on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao district this morning. 

The bus was travelling from Sitamarhi in Bihar to Delhi. It hit the milk tanker from behind near Garha village, according to official sources.

The impact of the collision was so huge that the bus was almost pulverised and people were flung out of the vehicle.

Police and other emergency personnel rushed to the site to extricate victims and transport the injured to hospitals.

Visuals from the scene showed bodies strewn on the ground, twisted scraps of metal, shattered glass and destroyed possessions. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

PM Modi announces ₹2 lakh ex gratia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of the deceased. 

The injured would be given ₹50,000 each.

UP Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh took cognisance of the deadly accident and expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also expressed his grief over the accident and directed officials to ensure proper treatment to the injured.

(Compiled from a syndicated feed)