At least 11 killed and 25 hurt as bus packed with schoolkids plunges 1,000ft down a steep gorge

AT LEAST 11 people have died and 25 are injured after an overloaded minibus packed with schoolkids plunged into a gorge in northern India.

The minibus was reportedly crammed far beyond capacity when it veered off the road and hurtled down into a deep ravine on Wednesday morning.

A police officer warned the death toll is likely to rise as a number of passengers are in a critical condition.

Most of the passengers were students at a nearby government school.

Among those killed were two boys aged five and 14, two teenage girls and a woman.

The horror accident took place at around 8.30am in Poonch district in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Police say the minibus was on its way to Poonch from Gali Maidan when it veered off the road and fell into a 100 feet-deep gorge.

The driver reportedly lost control of the bus before it rolled several hundred metres down the ravine in the foothills of the Himalayas.

A police officer said: "The death toll is likely to go up in view of the critical injuries to 9 passengers."

A major rescue operation was launched after the accident, involving police, the army and locals.

The injured were evacuated to a district hospital in Poonch.

India's Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed his grief at the tragic loss of life.

"Saddened by loss of lives due to a road accident in Sawjian, Poonch," he wrote on Twitter. "Condolences to bereaved families. May the injured recover soon."

He added that compensation of 5 lakh (£432k) would be given to the deceased's next of kin.

The President of India Rashtrapati Bhavan also spoke out following the tragedy.

She wrote: "The loss of lives in a tragic road accident in Sawjian, Poonch is deeply distressing. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families.

"I wish speedy recovery of the injured."