17 killed after bus plunges into gorge in Kashmir

Police say at least 17 people have been killed after a bus veered off a mountain road and plunged into a river in Indian Kashmir.

Police officer Hemant Lohia says rescue workers are searching the fast-flowing river for any survivors.

Lohia said Saturday it was not immediately clear how many passengers were traveling in the privately owned bus.

The cause of the accident was also unclear.

The accident occurred in Kishtwar region, about 120 miles (190 kilometers) southeast of Srinagar, the main city in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir.

Reckless driving, aging vehicles and overloading contribute to the high number of road accidents in India.