At least 27 people were killed when a bus fell into a 1,000 foot deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur district, officials said Tuesday.
The accident happened on Monday near Danoh, 150 km from here. As many as 25 people were injured.
A bus carrying passengers from Bilaspur to Bandla had broken down. Another bus that was coming on the same route stopped to pick up the passengers of the bus.
"Because of the darkness, the bus driver couldn't see the edge of the road. While the passengers were getting on to the bus it rolled down the hill and fell into a 1,000-foot deep gorge," Deputy Commissioner Ritesh Chauhan told IANS.
Superintendent of Police Santosh Patial said most of the victims died on the spot.
The rescue operation was still on, he added.
The government has ordered an inquiry.