36 die after bus falls into a gorge in India's Uttarakhand

New Delhi: At least 36 people have died and several have been injured after a bus fell into a gorge in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand.

Local officials said 44 people were on board when the driver lost control and the bus fell into a 50m-deep ditch in Marchula, located in the state’s Almora district.

The state government has ordered an inquiry into the accident.

Buses are the main mode of transport in the Himalayan state and accidents are not uncommon.

Several passengers died on the spot, while those injured were rushed to nearby hospitals. Rescue operations are still under way.