Shimla, Jan. 9 -- The death toll has increased to 13 people, including the driver, who were killed after a private bus en route from Shimla-Solan to Kupvi plunged into a deep gorge near Haripurdhar in Himachal Pradesh, officials said on Friday. The death toll may rise, as rescue and identification efforts are still underway.

Naresh Chauhan, Principal Media Advisor to the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, said that according to the information received so far, the bus skidded off the road and fell nearly 100 metres into a gorge.

"As per the information available at present, this was a private bus going from Solan to Kupvi. Near Haripurdhar, the bus fell off the road and plunged about 100 metres into a gorge, resulting in the death of 1...