At least 36 people have died and several have been injured after a bus fell into a gorge in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand, writes BBC.

Officials said 44 people were on board when the driver lost control and the bus fell into a 50m-deep ditch in Marchula, located in the state’s Almora district.

The state government has ordered an inquiry into the accident.

The bus was on its way to the state’s Ramnagar district when the accident took place on Monday morning. Photos and videos from the site showed the badly damaged vehicle overturned at the bottom of a hill. Several passengers died on the spot, while those injured were taken to nearby hospitals. Rescue operations are still under way.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences for the families of victims. He has announced compensation of 200,000 rupees (USD 2,378) for the families of the deceased, 50,000 rupees to those who were wounded.