India, April 17 -- At least nine people were killed and four others critically injured after a tourist van fell into a deep gorge in the Valparai hills of Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore district on Friday.

The victims were part of a group travelling from Kerala.

Accident at hairpin bend

The van, carrying 13 passengers from Malappuram district, lost control while descending the Valparai-Pollachi hill road.

It reportedly crashed into a barrier at the 13th hairpin bend before plunging into a gorge. Visuals from the scene showed the vehicle completely mangled.

Casualties and injuries

According to police, eight people died on the spot - seven women and one man - while another succumbed to injuries at the hospital.

The driver is among the criti...