At least 45 people were killed when a passenger bus carrying 54 people skidded off the road and fell into a canal in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday morning, according to local media.

The bodies of the deceased were recovered, and seven people have been rescued so far.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the accident and sent condolences to the bereaved families. 

The incident took place near Patna village in Sidhi district about 493 kilometers east of Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh.

The bus reportedly became completely submerged in water after plunging into the canal.

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

(With input from Xinhua)