Six persons, including three women, were killed and 10 others injured, when a sand-laden lorry dashed into the side of a government bus on the Thoppur NH, some 160 kms from here, near Salem, today.

A couple of injured persons are reportedly serious. They are being treated at Salem Government Hospital, police said.

The bus was proceeding to Dharmapuri from Mettur and was trying to enter the highway, when the lorry also going to Dharmapuri from the right side of the road dashed into the bus, killing four persons on the spot. Two others died on the way to the hospital.

Traffic on the highway was disrupted for nearly one hour due to the mishap.