ISLAMABAD: A school van plunged into a deep ravine in northwest Pakistan on Monday, killing six children and injuring another 21, officials said.

The driver lost control and the vehicle verred off the road in the far-flung mountainous district of Batgram in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

“Six children were confirmed dead and 21 injured,” Malik Shah, a local administrative official told AFP by telephone from Batgram.

The dead were aged seven to 11, and were going home from school, he added.

Zulfiqar Jadoon, a local rescue official, said the injured were taken to hospital.

“The van belonged to a private school. All those killed were aged seven to 11,” Jadoon said.