Raipur, Oct. 22 -- At least six people were killed and 40 others injured after a passenger bus carrying 46 people crashed into a roadside tree in Chhattisgarh's Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur (MCB) district on Thursday, police said.

The accident took place shortly after noon near the Semarmathani turn on the Manendragarh-Kelhari road when the bus was travelling towards Kelhari, a police officer said, adding that four of the injured were in critical condition.

Superintendent of police (SP) Ratna Singh said passengers told her that the driver lost control of the steering, following which the bus crashed into the roadside tree.

"Six passengers, including four women, died in the accident. Around 20 people, including the driver, suffered s...