At least seven killed and 15 injured as bus plunges into 200ft gorge after slamming through barrier

SEVEN have been killed and 15 injured when a luxury bus plunged into a 200ft gorge after slamming through a barrier.

The driver lost control at around 4.15am early Sunday morning and the vehicle, carrying 48 pilgrims, went through a crash barrier and fell about 35ft from the road.

Seven people have died in the horror crash

The top of the bus caved in after it crashed down the hill

Cops in Gujrat, India, said five people died instantly and 17 were taken to hospital with two later dying of their injuries.

The driver is one of the dead – which includes three men and two women.

The bus lost control on the Nashik-Gujarat highway just after he had taken a tea break at Saputara hill station.

Local official Mahesh Patel said the crash happened due to break failure.

He said: “As per the passengers, they had tea and breakfast at Saputara before resuming their journey. It is likely that the driver lost control of the vehicle due to brake failure.

“Medical staff are working diligently to treat the injured persons.”

Photos showed the smashed-up blue double-decker bus at the bottom of the gorge with the roof entirely collapsed.

The pilgrims were from Madhya Pradesh, a large state in central India, and were on their way to Dwarka in Gujarat.

The tragedy comes after 30 people were killed in a crowd stampede at the mega religious festival Kumbh Mela.

Hundreds of millions are expected to gather across the festival to take a holy dip during the six-week Hindu festival.

Devout Hindus believe taking a dip at the confluence of three sacred rivers – the Ganga, the Yamuna, and the mythical, invisible Saraswati – absolves people of sins.

GettyEmergency crews at the scene in northern India[/caption]