Divers pulled out 60 bodies, including those of 17 women and 16 children, while the search continued for other missing people after a private bus plunged into a pond at Govindgarh town in Rewa district on Thursday.

Official sources said on Friday that a two-year-child was still reported missing.

The bus was heading from Hinauta in Satna to Rewa when it lost balance and fell into the pond at around 1000 hrs.

Most of the passengers were labourers, who were going to their home to celebrate Diwali. Efforts were on to identify the deceased. Senior officials were supervising rescue operations.

Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 75,000 each to the family members of the deceased. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed grief over the tragedy and assured all possible assistance to the family members of the deceased.

Following his instructions, divers from Indore have been pressed into service to aid in the rescue operation.

Three heavy cranes were rushed to the spot, but the submerged bus was yet to be lifted out of the water, he said, adding that the mud boundary around the pond was making it difficult for the heavy machines to reach the bus.