At least 26 people have been killed when a bus carrying pilgrims veered off a mountainous road and fell into a deep gorge in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, officials said Monday.

The accident occurred late on Sunday evening in the state's Uttarakashi district.

"The bus was carrying 30 pilgrims from the central state of Madhya Pradesh to the holy town of Yamunotri in Uttarakhand when it plunged into the 250-metre-deep gorge," a senior police officer said.

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Some 26 bodies have been recovered from the accident site so far, according to a local disaster management official.

"The bodies are being sent to Dehradun from where they will be sent to Madhya Pradesh. The body of the bus helper has been kept at the local community health centre," district disaster management officer Devendra Patwal told the media.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a compensation of Rs two lakh each to the families of those killed in the bus accident and Rs 50,000 to the injured.

"A probe has been ordered into the accident," the police officer said.

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Road accidents are very common in India, with one taking place every four minutes. These accidents are often blamed on poor roads, rash driving and scant regard for traffic laws.

The Indian government's implementation of stricter traffic laws in recent years has failed to rein in accidents, which claim over 100,000 lives every year.