At least 16 people, including school children, were killed and several injured after a private bus veered off a cliff road and fell into a deep gorge below in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh on Monday morning, an official said.

The incident happened around 8 a.m at the Jangla area of Sainj valley on Neoli-Shansher road. Several school children were travelling on the bus.

"The school bus was en-route from Kullu-to Sainj on Neoli-Shansher road in Sainj valley. Death numbers may rise. The rescue operation is underway," said Kullu Deputy Commissioner Ashutosh Garg.

Meanwhile, the injured are being shifted to local hospitals in Kullu.

Medical and rescue teams from Kullu have moved to the site of the mishap.

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