Six schoolchildren have been killed and 12 others hurt in a bus crash in northern India.

The driver also died when the vehicle skidded off a hilly road and rolled down a gorge in Himachal Pradesh state on Saturday.

Three of the children, aged between five and 14, died at the scene, as did the driver.

The three other victims lost their lives later in hospital.

An investigation is under way into what caused the accident.


The children were students at a school in a remote area of the mountainous state.

In September, 55 people were killed when a bus carrying pilgrims from a Hindu temple in the hills of south India plunged off a road.

Around 150,000 people die every year on India's roads, often because of reckless driving, badly maintained roads and overcrowded vehicles.