Over 18 people have died and several others injured after the bus they were in collided with a milk truck in northern India's Uttar Pradesh state early Wednesday.

"The bus rammed into the tanker from behind killing 18 people and leaving 19 others injured," Zulfiqar Ali, from the district police chief's office, told AFP.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the incident as "heart-wrenching".

PHOTO | COURTESY Over 18 Killed As Bus Rams Tanker In India

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According to NDTV, the bus was traveling from the eastern province of Bihar to the capital, New Delhi.

Road accidents are widespread in India, with the government estimating 168,000 fatalities by 2022.

In May, the bus they were traveling in crashed into a steep valley in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing at least 21 people and injuring more than 50.