Police say bus rolls nearly 500 feet down gorge in northern India, killing 18

NEW DELHI – Police say a bus in northern India has rolled nearly 150 meters (500 feet) down a gorge, killing 18 people and injuring 14.

The accident occurred Friday nearly 310 kilometers (190 miles) north of New Delhi. The cause was not immediately known.

Police officer Khajana Ram says seven injured people have been hospitalized at Solan, a town in Himachal Pradesh state, and some were seriously hurt. Many of the victims were students of local colleges.

India has the world's deadliest roads, with more than 110,000 people killed annually. Most crashes are blamed on reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and aging vehicles.