"The deaths of 63 people, including women and children, have been confirmed," Firozabad district magistrate Amit Gupta said.
The bus was returning from a religious celebration when the accident occurred late on Tuesday evening 40 kilometers outside the city of Agra.
According to witnesses, there were at least 70 passengers inside the bus and 15 on its roof. Thirty-three passengers escaped with minor injuries, police said. The bus driver escaped unhurt and has been detained. "The driver is being questioned about the cause of the accident," a police official said.
Firozabad district police chief Navnit Kumar said the overloaded bus's driveshaft broke, hitting the pavement and causing sparks that ignited fuel in the gas tank.
Road accidents are common in India. In 2007, 10,528 people died in road accidents, according to government statistics.
