Seventy people were feared drowned when a bus, carrying about 105 passengers, fell into the swollen Sirugani river while crossing a bridge across it at Janaveli, about 40-km from Ramanathapuram Friday.
Twenty bodies, including that of seven women, have been recovered, the sources said adding, only 15 persons managed to escape.
Some bodies might have been washed away, official sources said.
The sources said the conductor had issued 105 tickets to the passengers.
The river, which is normally dry, was in spate due to heavy rains in neighbouring Sivaganga district, from where the river originates.
The mishap occurred at a spot where the river merges with the sea. Due to rains and floods, most buses were not operating.
Presently, the bus was submerged and efforts were on to pull it out. Fire service pressed a crane to lift the bus, but due to heavy currents, they have not succeeded, the sources said.
District Collector K Selvamuthu and Dy.Inspector General of Police Nandabalan have rushed to the spot, the sources added.