NEW DELHI, June 27 (Xinhua) -- At least six people have been killed in a head-on collision between a bus and an SUV in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal Wednesday, police said.

The accident occurred near Marishda in the state's East Midnapore district, some 150 km from the state capital of Kolkata.

"The SUV carrying the six people collided with the bus coming from the opposite direction this morning. While five of them died on the spot, one succumbed to his injuries on the way to a hospital," local police official Indrajit Basu told the media.

Cops said the victims, who included four politicians of the state's ruling Trinamul Congress party, were traveling to the beach town of Digha.

Local TV channels reported that a few passengers of the bus also sustained minor injuries in the accident and taken to a nearby medical center for first aid.

"A probe has been ordered into the incident. A case has been registered and a manhunt launched to track down the bus driver who fled the spot after the accident leaving the vehicle behind," another police official said.

Road accidents in India occur mostly due to poor driving or badly maintained roads and vehicles.