Casualties feared as bus plunges into gorge in W. India

Casualties were feared as a bus carrying 30 to 40 passengers plunged into a gorge in the western Indian state of Maharashatra Thursday morning, said local TV channel CNN-IBN.

Rescuers have rescued some 13 people from the scene which was at a rugged hilly area near Thane district outside Mumbai, said the report.

TV footage showed rescuers looking for possible survivors among the debris in the hilly area.

The bus plunged into the gorge from a hilly road after being rammed by a truck, according to the report.

Road accidents take place frequently in India, mainly due to reckless driving, bad road conditions and over-packing of passengers. An estimated 100,000 people are killed each year on the road in various accidents in India.