SRINAGAR At least 21 people were killed and several others were missing Monday when a bus they were travelling in plunged into a fast-flowing river in occupied Kashmir, police said.

The accident occurred in southern Kishtwar district when the driver of the 25-seater bus, which was carrying 30 people, lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the Chenab River.

Bus accidents are common in the area because of a combination of bad roads, overcrowding and poor maintenance of vehicles. In May and October last year, over 50 people were killed in two similar crashes in the same district.