SRINAGAR, July 17: Twenty-two people were killed on Saturday and over three dozen injured when a packed passenger bus skidded off a road and plunged into a gorge in Kashmir, police said.

The accident occurred in Kangan, 40 kilometres northwest of Srinagar, a police spokesman said.

Police and doctors said 22 people were dead as a result of the accident.

A number died at the scene while others died in hospital.

"Some passengers had no chance because of serious head injuries," said a doctor.-AFP