A bus carrying a wedding party fell into a gorge, killing 23 people and injuring 31 others in India's mountainous northern state of Uttaranchal, police said this afternoon.
At least 20 passengers are still missing. The Himalayan area is so remote that the police and rescue teams received information of the accident nine hours after it occurred, said local police officers.
The wooded region near the upper reaches of the Ganges River is popular for Hindu weddings and holidays because of its many prominent temples.
A police spokesman said it was not immediately clear how many passengers were on the bus. Press Trust of India reported that it carrying 100 passengers and was heading to the state's Dhansi village when it plunged off a narrow road.
The area is approximately 150 miles northeast of New Delhi.
Heavy rains in the area have made the narrow local roads, already in poor condition, perilous for driving, local officials said.
Buses are the most popular means of transport in rural India. However, many are in rickety condition, driven recklessly and overcrowded.