A bus carrying pilgrims fell into a deep gorge in the northern Indian occupied Jammu on Thursday, killing at least 21 people and injuring dozens, authorities said.

The bus, which began its journey in Kurukshetra in the northern Haryana state was headed to a Hindu temple in Indian-Occupied Jammu when it rolled into the gorge, a police spokesperson said.

A rescue operation was ongoing, said the police official, adding that 40 injured people were admitted to the government medical college in Jammu for treatment.