Jammu, April 20 -- At least 12 people were killed and several others injured after a passenger bus skidded off the road and plunged into a gorge in the Ramnagar area of Udhampur district on Monday, officials said.

The accident occurred near Kanote when the bus lost control and veered off the hilly stretch, they said.

Police, SDRF personnel and local residents immediately launched a rescue operation, evacuating the injured from the site and shifting them to nearby hospitals.

Officials said the death toll has risen to 12, while several injured passengers are undergoing treatment. Some of the critically injured are being prepared for airlifting to higher medical centres, they added.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said he spoke to the Udha...