NEW DELHI, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- At least three people have been killed and four others injured in a road accident in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, police said Wednesday.

The accident occurred near Sayalgudi in the state's Ramanathapuram district.

"A car and a state-run bus collided head-on, claiming the lives of three persons on the spot. The four injured have been admitted to a nearby hospital," a police official said.

All the victims were occupants of the car, he said.

A probe has been ordered into the incident, the official said. "The bus driver has been booked for rash and negligent driving and efforts are on to nab him," he added.

India has the highest number of road fatalities in the world. Road accidents occur mostly due to poor driving or badly maintained roads and vehicles.