At least 27 people were killed and 16 others injured when a bus fell into a gorge in Indian-controlled Kashmir on Wednesday, said local police.

The bus, which was on its way to Jammu City from Bhaderwah, fell into the gorge near Pul Doda when it was moving on a curve, said police who previously said 25 were killed.

But the local Indo-Asian News Service said 38 people were killed in the accident.

Police were looking for more bodies at the scene of the accident, said local TV Times Now.

Authorities airlifted nine critically injured to a government hospital in Jammu 170 kilometers away from Pul Doda, said the police.

The accident took place at around 08:00 am local time (0230 GMT) and the mishapped bus belonged to a private person.

(Xinhua News Agency February 25, 2009)