Twenty people were killed following a road accident involving a bus and a truck in south India's Tamil Nadu state, Xinhua news agency reported citing a local official.

"We have recovered 20 dead bodies, including 15 men and five women. There were 48 passengers on the bus. The rest 28 have been injured, four of them seriously. All the injured have been admitted to a local hospital," the official told Xinhua.

The incident happened at around 3:30 a.m. local time in Avinashi area of Tiruppur district of the state when the bus driver lost control of the vehicle and rammed into a truck coming from the opposite direction. 

One of the bus's tires burst. 

Both vehicles were reportedly speeding. 

The bus which belonged to the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) was bound for Ernakulam in Kerala state.

Senior officials from KSRTC are at the site and an inquiry report will be conducted on the case.