NEW DELHI: At least 20 people were killed and another 35 injured when a truck carrying Hindu pilgrims crashed into a gorge in northern India, police said.

Police officer Sukhchain Singh Gill said the accident happened on Thursday as the driver lost control of the vehicle after its brakes failed.

Singh said the driver was among those injured in the accident near Hoshiarpur, a town 380 kilometres north of New Delhi.

Singh said the injured were taken to a local hospital, but none of them suffered life-threatening injuries.

India has the world's deadliest roads, with more than 110,000 people killed annually. Most crashes are blamed on reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and aging vehicles.