Five persons were killed when a private bus, carrying at least 60 passengers, fell off a small bridge across a canal after crashing through the parapet at Sathanur village on Mandya-Keregodu main road, police said.
Fifty-six people, including many schoolchildren, sustained injuries, a police officer said.
They said the bus was on its way to Mandya from Dyapasandra when the accident occurred at Sathanur village, nearly 7 km from here.
The bus driver was trying to overtake a vehicle when he noticed another bus coming in the opposite direction, the officer said.
The driver and his assistant are at large, he said, adding that all the injured have been hospitalised.
Vehicular movement on the Mandya-Keregodu main road was affected for nearly three hours following the accident.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced Rs 1 lakh compensation to the deceased family.
JDS President H D Kumaraswamy also announced Rs 1 lakh compensation to deceased family.
