Bhopal, Sep 9 (IANS): As many as 21 people were killed and 41 others were rescued when an overcrowded bus fell into Bagdi river in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district, police said.

The accident took place late Wednesday when a private bus, on its way to Indore via Chapra from Nemawar, with around 70-80 passengers on board skidded off the bridge and fell into the overflowing Bagdi river at Khategaon village.

Pawan Jain, inspector general of police, Ujjain range, told IANS that some three to five people were still missing.

The driver of the bus, in which several women and students were travelling, survived the accident and was arrested on charges of criminal negligence.

Sita Bai, who was among the 41 people who managed to swim to safety with injuries and was undergoing treatment at Khategaon hospital, told police officers that the driver was largely responsible for the accident as he ignored the requests of passengers not to take the bus across the bridge overflowing with Bagdi river waters.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced a compensation of Rs.1 lakh each for the families of those killed. He has also asked the senior officials of Malwa region to personally monitor the rescue work.

Dozens of locals have joined in rescue work with divers and experts to save the missing passengers.