Over ten people were killed and at least 12 others injured when a bus skidded off the road and plunged into an open well at Parthanahally, about 10 km away from Athani in Belgaum district on Saturday.

The state road transport corporation bus with approximately 38 to 40 passengers was on its way to Jeth village from Athani, said the police. The driver lost control of the vehicle while passing through a culvert and the bus fell into the 30-feet deep well.

Authorities suspect that the death toll might be higher as some bodies were yet to be fished out of the well.

Three cranes are being used to extricate the bus from the well and pump out the water, said the police. The injured were rushed to a hospital in Meeraj.