At least 18 people were killed and 19 injured early on Wednesday when a double-decker bus rammed into a milk tanker on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao.

The bus was travelling from Motihari in Bihar to Delhi, Unnao District Magistrate Gaurang Rathi said.

It struck the milk tanker from behind near Garha village. The force of the impact was such that the bus was pulverized 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 debris of destroyed possessions.

The cause of the crash is under investigation. Initial probe suggests the bus was overspeeding, DM Gaurang Rathi said.

The PMO announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak arrived later in the day to take stock and oversee arrangements on the ground. Most of the injured are from Bihar, and the state is coordinating with the Bihar government.

Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh took cognisance of the deadly accident and expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased. Instructions have been given to ensure proper treatment for all the injured.