Kochi | At least 20 people were injured after a tourist bus carrying around 35 passengers crashed into the side of a petrol pump at Kakkoor in Ernakulam district on Thursday, police said.

The bus had swerved to avoid a two-wheeler that suddenly turned across the road, according to CCTV footage.

The bus was carrying a group from Kalady who were travelling to attend a wedding.

The passengers, including children and elderly people, sustained injuries in the accident, police said.

The CCTV footage showed a two-wheeler rider suddenly turning right without checking for approaching traffic.

The bus driver appears to have applied the brakes and swerved to avoid hitting the rider, following which the bus veered off the road and crashed into the side of the petrol pump, police said.

Another two-wheeler parked near the petrol station was also in the path of the bus, but its rider escaped without being hit.

Several passengers were trapped or injured as the bus overturned following the impact.

Locals rushed to the spot and helped evacuate the passengers, while ambulances were brought in to take the injured to nearby hospitals.

Police said the accident could have caused more casualties given that the bus was carrying around 35 people and the accident occurred on a busy stretch.

The absence of vehicles and people in the area where the bus crashed into the petrol pump also helped prevent further injuries, they said.

Police were examining the CCTV footage and investigating the circumstances that led to the accident.