India, July 16 -- Seven persons were killed and 17 were injured after a passenger vehicle skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge in Ponda area of hilly Doda district on Tuesday, officials said.

An official said that an accident occurred when a tempo traveller (JK06-4847) skidded off the road and plunged into a deep gorge along the Doda-Barath road near Ponda.

The vehicle was carrying multiple passengers when it lost its control, resulting in the fatal road accident, the official said.

According to officials, 26 passengers were travelling in the vehicle at the time of the accident. Rescue operations were immediately launched by the local police and volunteers, with authorities rushing to the scene to assist in retrieving the...