At least 20 persons were killed and over 35 injured when a private bus, trying to avoid hitting an autorickshaw, skidded off the road and plunged into a canal at Kestopur in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal on Friday.

"So far we have received information that 20 persons lost their lives in the accident," District Magistrate Provat Mishra told PTI.

Three of the bodies were fished out by divers of Border Security Force's 104^th battalion Disaster Management unit after the overcrowded bus on route to Narayanpur from Babughat in the metropolis plunged into the waters, BSF sources said.

The police rescued 30-35 injured persons, including three children, who were admitted to hospitals and nursing homes, the district magistrate said.

Nursing home sources said the condition of the injured children was serious.

Two cranes pulled the bus out of the canal.

Local people helped the police and fire-brigade in the rescue operations.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee visited the spot and blamed the West Bengal government for not having a disaster management group.

She demanded Rs 10 lakh for the next of kin of each of the dead and Rs 5 lakh for the injured.