At least 15 people were killed and 22 injured when a passenger bus fell into a deep gorge at Sherbibi near Banihal on the Jammu Srinagar [Images] national highway on Wednesday morning.

A senior police officer informed that the bus was on its way to Srinagar from Jammu, when the driver lost control over the vehicle, at a sharp bend.

"The bus fell into the gorge, and 15 people were killed on the spot," the officer said.

A massive rescue and relief operation was launched immediately and the injured were shifted to the sub-district hospital in Banihal.

Attending doctors have referred the critically injured victims for specialised treatment to Jammu. The authorities are making arrangements to shift the injured victims to Jammu.