At least 18 persons were killed and 20 injured when a private bus they were travelling in fell into a gorge here late last night, police said.

The ill-fated bus from Vadodara in Gujarat, carrying Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited employees who were on their way to Manali, fell into Charankhud, police said.

The exact number of persons travelling in the bus is yet to be ascertained, they said.

Eighteen bodies have been recovered so far and the injured have been admitted to the Dharamshala [Images] zonal hospital, they said.

The condition of three of the injured was stated to be critical.

Police said it appears that the driver of the vehicle failed to negotiate a sharp curve and lost control, which led to the accident.