NEW DELHI, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 persons died by drowning and a few went missing after the vehicle they were travelling in fell off a bridge into a river in India's central state of Madhya Pradesh on Thursday evening, local police confirmed.

Rescue operations were on to trace those missing.

The mishap occurred in the state's Khandwa area when the victims were going for idols' immersion on the occasion of a religious festival.

"A 12-year-old boy accidentally turned the tractor-trolley's ignition key, causing it to start and move forward. The tractor-trolley slipped off the bridge and fell into the river Abna. The people aboard also fell into the water," Assistant Superintendent of Police Abhishek Ranjan told local media.

According to him, there were a total of 14 people onboard the vehicle when the mishap occurred. ■