AKIPRESS.COM - At least 44 people have been killed in India after a bus plunged into a gorge, officials say, BBC reports.

Dozens more were injured in the accident on Thursday in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, a mountainous northern state.

At least 60 people were on board when the packed bus veered off the road. Some passengers had been on the vehicle's roof.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he was "deeply saddened".

The bus rolled off the road at a sharp and steep bend, then fell into a deep ravine.

Officials initially said at least 25 people had been killed. They then revised the figure, saying 19 more had died of their injuries.

Pictures from the scene showed the bus lying crumpled beside a stream, and a human chain of volunteers helping the survivors.