Indian bus plunges into gorge, killing 23

A bus carrying a wedding party fell into a gorge, killing 23 people and injuring 31 in India’s mountainous northern state of Uttaranchal.

Eighteen people died on the spot in last night’s accident, while two others died on the way to hospital, and three passengers died in hospital of serious injuries, police said.

The Himalayan area is so remote that the police and rescue teams received information of the accident nine hours after it occurred.

The wooded region near the upper reaches of the Ganges River is popular for Hindu weddings and holidays because of its many prominent temples.