At least 12 people died when their bus plunged into a Himalayan gorge in the northern Indian hill state of Himachal Pradesh, police said Sunday.

The bus fell into a 60-metre-deep gorge near Nanikhad in Chamba district on Saturday, superintendent of police Monika Bhutunguru said.

 The bus was travelling from Pathankot in Punjab state to Dalhousie in Himachal and was less than 10 kilometres from its destination, the official said.

The driver appeared to have lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a sharp bend in the road, a witness told the police.

 ‘An investigation is being carried out under the supervision of a senior officer who has reached the site,’ Bhutunguru said.

Several injured in the accident were admitted to local hospitals, he added.

India has the highest number of traffic fatalities worldwide, with an average of around 135,000 people dying per year.

Common causes are bad roads, non-roadworthy vehicles and reckless driving. India's hill roads are particularly prone to accidents.

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