5 killed as bus plunges into gorge in W India

NEW DELHI -- At least five people were killed as a bus carrying 40 passengers plunged into a gorge in the western Indian state of Maharashatra Thursday morning, said local media.

The bus, which belonged to the Maharashatra state transport company, fell into a deep valley at Tokawade in Malshej Ghat, around 154 km from Thane, a satellite city of Mumbai, said the Press Trust of India.

Quoting the local disaster control room, the report said five deaths were confirmed but the number might go up as there were 40 passengers in the bus at the time of the accident.

Rescuers have rescued 17 people from the scene which was at a rugged hilly area, said local TV channel CNN-IBN.

TV footage showed rescuers looking for possible survivors among the debris in a hilly area.

The bus plunged into the gorge after being rammed by a truck, according to the TV report.

Road accidents take place frequently in India, mainly due to reckless driving, bad road conditions and over-packing of passengers. An estimated 100,000 people are killed each year on the road in various accidents in India.