Solan: Eighteen people were killed when a bus they were travelling in plunged off a mountain road in Himachal Pradesh, police said.

Fourteen more people were also injured when the private bus fell into a gorge in Sirmaur district early on Friday. The police said the toll could rise.

The bus, with 36 people, was travelling between Punardhar and Solan towns.

Road accidents are common these days, often due to poor driving or badly maintained roads and vehicles.