Kolkata, Apr 4: At least 18 people were killed when a private bus plunged into a canal in northeastern Kolkata on Friday.

At least 18 bodies were fished out. The bus had around 50 passengers. Several of the injured were taken to hospital in critical condition.

Tapas Chatterjee, chairman of Rajarhat Municipality under Kolkata's adjoining North 24 Parganas district, informed. "Eighteen bodies were recovered while many in critical condition were taken to hospital."

"The accident occurred when the brake of the vehicle failed as the driver was trying to overtake another bus," he said.

The bus has been pulled out of water with the help of two cranes. Divers from the Disaster Management Group reached the spot to check if there were more passengers trapped.

Chatterjee said though the identities of the passengers were yet to be confirmed, most could be residents of adjoining Rajarhat and Pagladanga.

The injured passengers have been admitted to the Charnok, Swastik, Uma and Apex nursing homes.