NEW DELHI, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed and more than 20 others injured after a bus skidded off the road and plunged into a gorge in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, police said Friday.

The accident occurred near Mohanri in the state's Almora district.

"The bus carrying some 30 people veered off a mountain road and rolled down into the deep gorge Thursday evening after its driver lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a curve," a police official said.

While five people died on the spot, those injured have been admitted to a government hospital after being rescued by local people and a police team that rushed to the spot, he added.

A probe has been ordered into the incident, the official said. "The bus driver has been booked for rash and negligent driving," he added.

Road accidents occur in India mostly due to poor driving or badly maintained roads and vehicles.