16 including students killed as bus falls into gorge in India

At least 16 people, including school children, were killed when a private bus fell into a deep gorge in Sainj valley of Himachal Pradesh's Kullu early on Monday morning, officials said.

Kullu Deputy Commissioner Ashutosh Garg said the Sainj bound bus fell into the gorge near Jangla village.

The incident took place around 8 AM. The bus was carrying nearly 45 passengers. Several of them are feared injured in the accident.

The site of the mishap is located nearly 60 km from the district headquarters. Rescue operations are underway and three injured have been rescued so far.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the accident "heart-rending" and offered his condolences to the bereaved families. He also announced ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the wounded.

“The bus accident in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh is heart-rending. In this tragic hour my thoughts are with the bereaved families. I hope those injured recover at the earliest. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected,” the Prime Minister's Office said in a tweet.