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 At least nine people were killed and 20 others injured after a passenger bus hit a stationary goods truck Thursday in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, police said.

The accident took place in the morning at 6:30 (local time) in Rewa district, about 500 km northeast of Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, Xinhua reported. 

"In a tragic road accident here today at Gud Bypass, nine passengers were killed and 20 others injured after a bus carrying them rammed into a stationary goods truck," a police official said. "The injured were immediately removed to the nearest hospital."

Following the accident, the police rushed to the spot and along with the rescue team.

Police officials have registered a case and initiated investigations to ascertain the cause of the accident.

Preliminary investigations carried out by the police suggest the bus carrying local passengers was being rashly driven.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath expressed grief over the deaths in the accident and directed authorities to extend all help to the injured.

"Have received sad news about the accident in Rewa. My condolences to the families of all the passengers who died in this horrific accident," a statement from chief minister's office said. "Instructions have been given for the proper treatment of all the injured passengers in this accident."

Deadly road accidents, caused by overloading, bad condition of roads and reckless driving, are common in India.

Indian government last month released a report saying 151,471 people were killed in road accidents during 2018 across the country. The maximum deaths during road accidents in 2018 were caused due to overspeeding.

Officials say on an average over 400 deaths take place every day in India due to road accidents.