The bodies were flown from the Maharaj Nakhon Chiang Mai Hospital to Sattahip naval base in Chon Buri from where they were taken to Chanthaburi's Tab Sai temple.

A chartered bus taking 50 teachers from Chanthaburi to Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai plunged into a river in Chiang Mai's Doi Saket district on Friday morning, killing 17 and injuring 33 others, police said.

The accident occurred at about 9.30am on the Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai highway in Tambon Pa Miang, about 30 kilometres from Chiang Mai City.

The double-decker coach went out of control on a sharp curve near a bridge over the Kuang River. It overturned and plunged into the river, police said. The injured were evacuated by helicopter to nearby hospitals.

Chiang Mai provincial police commander Maj-General Bandop Sukonthaman said the driver, Kamron Boonrat, was in custody in the Nakhon Pink hospital with a broken arm and leg.

He has been charged with reckless driving leading to the death of others. Police will take further action against the owners of the Thikhamporn Tour company if the bus is found to have been illegally modified.

Education Minister Wijit Srisa-arn said Office of Basic Education Commission secretary Khunying Kasama Varavarn na Ayutthaya would oversee funeral arrangements and care of the injured.

The Chanthaburi Provincial Educational Service Office is arranging replacement teachers.