A bus crashed into a 400ft deep gorge killing nine passengers and the driver in India on Friday morning.

The vehicle was carrying workers to Kashmir when it lost control on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway near Battery Chashma in the Ramban area of Jammu at around 1 am local time.

Rescue workers searching through the wreckage found 10 dead people at the scene.

Bashir Ahmad Magray, President of the Civil QRT Ramban Volunteers Group, said the victims were labourers from outside the region who were on their way to Kashmir in search of employment.

The Police, SDRF, and Quick Rescue Team (QRT) Ramban arrived at the scene and initiated a rescue operation despite the challenging weather conditions and rugged terrain with heavy rains in the area.

Rescuers said they were working to locate any possible survivors after the vehicle plunged into a deep gorge in Banihal.

Among the deceased individuals were Vipin Mukhiya Bhairagang from West Champaran, Bihar, and the driver, Balwan Singh, 48, from Amb Ghrotha in Jammu.

Bashir Ahmad Magray said: 'A rescue and relief effort was started right away. The rescue operation is still unable to locate the unfortunate vehicle and its occupants because of the rain and darkness

'Rescue operations were restarted with the first light on Friday morning.'

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has expressed shock and sadness over the tragic deaths in the Ramban traffic accident.

He said: 'I am deeply shocked to learn of the unfortunate road accident in Ramban in which precious lives have been lost.

"My heartfelt condolences go to the bereaved families. I've issued instructions to the district administration and divisional commissioner to render all assistance, as provided in the rule, to the kin of victims.'

Indian President Draupadi Murmu expressed her condolences.

She said: 'The news of people getting killed after a vehicle fell into a gorge in the Ramban area on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway is very sad. I offer my condolences to the bereaved families.'