NEW DELHI // A crowded minibus veered off a mountain road and fell into a gorge in northern India, killing at least 22 people, an official said.
District official Santu Lal said Thursday that police and rescuers pulled 22 bodies from the 150-metre deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh state.
Mr Lal said rescuers used ropes to climb into the gorge and pull out 17 people who were injured.
Another district official, Vidya Pal, said 12 in serious condition were taken by helicopter to the state capital, Shimla.
India has the world’s deadliest roads, with more than 110,000 people killed annually. Most crashes are blamed on reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and ageing vehicles.
* Associated Press
