Five people were killed and 49 others were injured after a truck crashed into a bus in India.

The lorry was travelling along the Mahatma Gandhi Expressway at night when it hit a bus that was carrying 80 devotees travelling to a temple when it stopped for a tyre change in Gujarat on July 15.

It struck the bus driver and his assistant, who immediately died, as well as three passengers sitting by the window before the impact caused the vehicle to plunge into a cliff.

Footage shows the rescue and retrieval operation, during which rescuers searched for survivors. A crane pulled the bus off the cliff and towed it to an open space.

Superintendent Police G G Jasani of Anand rural police said: ‘While two people, who were repairing the tyre, were killed due to the collision, the impact caused the bus to tilt and overturn, crushing at least three passengers.'

Police remanded the truck driver in custody, and an investigation was conducted to ascertain if there was negligence.

He added: ‘The bus had a flat tyre. Ideally, they should have moved to the side for repairs but initial investigation showed they were repairing along the speeding lanes.'

All those injured were taken to hospitals, three to public facilities, while the 46 others were moved to MGM Hospital.

The road was already clear after causing a three-hour traffic jam.