Bus crashes into mountain gorge, killing 18 in northern India
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-06-21 14:22

A crowded bus crashed into a mountain gorge in northern India after the driver lost control on a sharp curve, killing at least 18 people and injuring 20 others, a news report said Tuesday.

The bus, carrying workers from a state-run telecommunications company, was traveling to the scenic Himalayan resort of Manali, when it fell into a gorge near Charankhud around midnight Monday, Press Trust of India quoted local police as saying.

The exact number of people in the bus was not immediately known. Villagers and police rescued at least 20 people who were badly injured. They also pulled out 18 bodies from the bus, police said.

Charankhud is about 425 kilometers (265 miles) north of New Delhi.

PTI quoted an unnamed police official as saying the bus driver failed to negotiate a sharp curve and lost control of the bus.

Buses are a popular means of transport throughout India. However, many are in poor condition, and are often overcrowded and driven recklessly.