Shimla: As many as 27 children aged below 10 were among 30 killed when a school bus ferrying them back home plunged into a deep gorge in Himachal Pradesh on Monday.

The children were students of Ram Singh Pathania Memorial School, police said.

Thirty people, including 27 children, have lost their lives, Himachal Pradesh transport minister Govind Singh Thakur said.

The school bus driver, 67-year-old Madan Lal, and two women teachers also died in the accident, Kangra SP Santosh Patial said.

The accident took place near Gurchal village on the Nurpur-Chamba highway, about 100km from the district headquarters at Dharamsala.

The local BJP MLA, Rakesh Pathania, who was on the spot, said 27 bodies were recovered while two more had been spotted.

At least 13 seriously injured people were rushed to a hospital in Pathankot where one of them succumbed to injuries, an official said. The condition of the other injured are also critical, he said.

The bus was carrying 40-45 passengers and most of those killed were students of elementary classes, aged below 10.

Chief minister Jai Ram Thakur announced an immediate grant of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of each of the deceased.

A magisterial probe was ordered and preliminary enquiries suggested the accident occurred as the driver lost control over the bus which veered off the road and fell into a deep gorge, an official said.

A pall of gloom descended in the area as wailing parents rushed to the spot on hearing the news.

Food and supplies minister Krishan Kapoor was among the senior state functionaries at the accident site to supervise rescue operations.

The bodies were extricated from the rubble with the assistance of local youths.

Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives.

"I am deeply shocked to learn about the tragic bus accident... my heart goes out to the family members of the deceased," Naidu tweeted.

The PMO said Modi was deeply anguished over the loss of lives. "My prayers and solidarity with those who lost their near and dear ones in the accident," the PMO said, quoting the Prime Minister.

Governor Acharya Devvrat, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur, Union minister J.P. Nadda and transport minister Thakur were among those who expressed deep shock over the tragedy. PTI