A bus plunged into a river this morning in suburban Jinshan District as it tried to avoid a collision with another bus.

Two passengers were slightly injured in the accident on Jinshan's Qinwan Road.

The driver said a bus heading towards him suddenly swerved into his lane to avoid a pedicab and he turned suddenly to avoid an accident but drove off the road.

"I had to give way to the Fengqi bus but there was no room on the road," the driver said.

Half the bus was submerged in the river but all seven passengers were rescued. Two suffered superficial injuries and were taken to hospital.

The road was blocked for over three hours while the bus was pulled out of the river. Jinshan police are investigating.

(Shanghai Daily February 25, 2009)