The accident took place when the bus enroute to Betul from Maharashtra's Paratwada town rammed into a truck head on near Mahadgaon village on Betul-Indore national highway, around 10 kms from the district headquarters, Betul Kotwali police station in-charge Pankaj Tyagi said.
All injured passengers were admitted to the district hospital and the condition of 16 persons is stated to be critical, he added.
Due to strong impact of the collision almost all seats of the bus uprooted, causing serious injuries to the occupants, Tyagi said.
A case has been registered in this regard and further probe is on, police added.