At least 16 people were killed and 24 others injured in a major road mishap in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh Tuesday, a senior police official said.

"The mishap happened when the bus in which the victims were traveling collided head on with a speeding truck coming from the opposite direction in the state's Chhattarpur district. While 16 people died on the spot, those injured have been admitted to a local hospital," he said, on condition of anonymity.

A probe has been ordered into the incident, the official added.

The state government has announced a compensation of one lakh rupees (about 2,000 U.S. dollars) each to the families of those killed.