Raipur/IBNS: 14 people died and 12 others were injured after a bus fell into a mining pit in the Durg district of Chhattisgarh on Tuesday night, media reports said.

Eleven of the deceased were declared dead on arrival at the hospital. Three others died a few minutes later.

Six people, who have survived, are in critical condition.

The rescue operations, which started at night, are underway.

Police have not been able to decipher the reason behind the driver losing control of the bus, which plunged into the 40-feet deep pit.

The workers were returning from a private distillery in the district when the accident happened.

Expressing sadness at the incident, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai posted on X, "I pray to God to give peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families.

"Adequate arrangements have been made for the treatment of the employees injured in the accident. I wish them a speedy recovery."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X, "My condolences to those who lost their loved ones in this. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of the injured. Under the supervision of the state government, the local administration is engaged in helping the victims in every possible way."