The accident happened as two buses carrying students from Thambalnu Higher Secondary School, Yaripok were heading towards Khoupum on a study tour.

The driver lost control of the bus that the girl students were riding in, causing it to tip over, police said.

The Chief Minister of Manipur N Biren Singh expressed grief over the incident in a statement on Twitter.

“Deeply saddened to hear about the accident of a bus carrying school children at the Old Cachar Road today. SDRF, Medical team and MLAs have rushed to the site to coordinate the rescue operation. Praying for the safety of everyone in the bus,” Biren said.

The World Health Organization's compilation of road network safety data for major economies found India to have the highest number of road fatalities in the world, with 299,091 deaths caused by road accidents. (ILKHA)