At least 40 people were killed on Wednesday when a fire broke out on a bus which had crashed into a central reservation on a highway between the cities of Bangalore and Hyderabad.

The crash happened around 5 a.m. local time, said local police spokesman Venkateshwarlu, who uses only one name.

He added that five people, including the driver and the bus cleaner managed to escape before the fire engulfed the vehicle.

The bus had reportedly been attempting to pass another vehicle when it hit the roadside barrier.

India has the highest annual death toll in the world, according to the World Health Organization. The government's National Crime Records Bureau estimates that a total of 131,834 people died in road accidents in 2011 - roughly 15 people every hour.

Poorly maintained roads, reckless driving and ageing vehicles are all listed as contributing factors.

ccp/ch (AFP, AP)