Twelve labourers were killed and 18 injured when a Border Roads Organisation truck they were travelling on fell into a gorge near Leh in the cold desert region of Ladakh late on Wednesday evening.

All the deceased were working for the BRO and police rescue teams have recovered the bodies and brought them to the district hospital at Leh for identification.

All the 18 injured persons, five of whom are critical, have also been shifted to the hospital for treatment.