The bus was on its way to Chhatarpur from Harpalpur when it dashed with a Naugaon-bound truck loaded with cement around 7 AM, police said.
The accident claimed 12 lives on the spot while four others succumbed to injuries on way to a nearby hospital.
Chhattarpur Collector Rajesh Bahuguna and other officials reached the spot soon after the mishap.
13 persons, eight in serious condition, were admitted in the Chhatarpur district hospital while the remaining are undergoing treatment at Nougaon civil hospital, police said.
The district collector has announced an ex-gratia of Rs one lakh each to the deceased person and Rs 10,000 each to the injured passengers.