As many as 16 people, including school children, were killed when a commuter bus veered off the road and rolled down a gorge in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh on Monday. The accident occurred near Sainj Valley in the northern Indian hilly state's Kullu district this morning. Deputy commissioner of Kullu Ashutosh Garg told the local media that the private bus was carrying 45 passengers when it fell into the gorge near Jangla village around 9.30am. "So far, 16 bodies have been recovered by rescuers. Rescue operation is still on," a police officer told the local media. Read: India sends team to help with deadly Afghanistan earthquake Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media to offer his condolences to the bereaved families. He also announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of the deceased. "The bus accident in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh is heart-rending. In this tragic hour my thoughts are with the bereaved families. I hope those injured recover at the earliest," the Prime Minister's Office said in a tweet. "A probe has been ordered into the accident," the police officer said. Read: India landslide death toll rises to 42 Road accidents are common in India, with one taking place every four minutes. These accidents are 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.