At least 44 people were killed and dozens of others injured on Thursday after a bus plunged into a gorge in the Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh in India .

Officials say at least 60 people were on board the bus when it veered off the road in the mountainous northern state. Some passengers had been on the vehicle’s roof before the incident.

Reports initially said that at least 25 people had been killed. They then revised the figure, saying 19 more had died as a result of the serious injuries they sustained during the plunge.

The parked bus reportedly rolled off the road at a sharp and steep bend before falling into a deep ravine. Pictures from the scene showed the bus lying crumpled beside a stream and volunteers helping the survivors.

Kullu Police Chief, Shalini Agnihotri told reporters that many of the victims were women and children returning from work and school.

Road accidents are a frequent occurrence in India and the rugged Himachal Pradesh state  recorded more than 30,000 between 2009 and 2018.

According to the Times of India, more than 11,000 people were killed and around 54,000 injured there during that period.