At least eight passengers were killed when a bus travelling from Shimla to Tikkar in Himachal Pradesh fell into a 500-ft gorge when the driver lost control while negotiating a steep turn.

The Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus was carrying 30 passengers when the accident took place at Chhaila, 45 km from the state Capital.

While five people died on the spot, three succumbed to their injuries at Shimla's Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) where they were taken for treatment. The driver of the bus was killed in the accident as well. The other passengers who were injured were taken to a hospital in Theog.

The local administration extricated the bodies of the victims from the wreckage of the bus with the help of locals. The death toll could rise further as the condition of three of the injured is serious, an official said.

Stressing that the exact cause of the accident was not known yet, the authorities hinted that the driver, while negotiating a curve lost control of the vehicle. A case has been registered by the police.

The deceased were identified as Rajeev, driver of the bus, Mahinder Chauhan,

Sunil Sharma, Tula Ram, Rohini, Motu, Satya and Sukh Ram.

Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, Transport minister Gobind Singh Thakur, Education minister Suresh Bharadwaj and former minister and local MLA from Jubbal-Kotkhai Narinder Bragata expressed shock and grief over the accident and sent their condolences to the bereaved families.

Transport Minister Govind Singh Thakur ordered a magisterial inquiry and visited IGMCH, Shimla to know the well being of injured and wished them speedy recovery. He directed the district administration to provide all possible help to the families of the deceased and best treatment to those injured.

He said that all expenses on treatment of injured persons would be borne by Transport Department.

8 killed as bus falls into gorge near Shimla