The vehicle was carrying 13 passengers while it can only accommodate nine: Official (Representational)

Three people were killed and 10 others injured when an overloaded vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a gorge in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, the police said today.

The accident took place on Thursday night when an SUV on its way to Bhalla in Doda district from Jammu skidded off the road and rolled down a 200-ft deep gorge at Khaleeni belt, they said.

A rescue operation was launched and 13 people were rushed to the district hospital Doda where three were declared brought dead by the doctors.

Three others were stated to be serious, the police said.

Those who died have been identified as Badal, Ashwani Kumar and Chanku Ram, all residents of Kumari in Bhalla, they said.

Officials said that the vehicle was carrying 13 passengers while it can only accommodate nine.