At least 21 pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh's Indore district were killed and six others injured when their bus plunged in a gorge in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi on Tuesday, officials here said.

The accident occurred at around 6.30 pm as they were returning to Rishikesh from the Gangotri when the vehicle fell into the 100-foot deep gorge after the driver lost control, said tehsildar D.D. Sharma.

The pilgrims were a part of 57 persons from two areas of the district who had journeyed to the hill state, he added.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed his grief at the incident and announced compensation of Rs2 lakh each to the kin of those killed and Rs50,000 each for the injured. He also ordered a team of state officials to proceed immediately to Uttarakhand for assistance of the survivors and the bereaved.

Source: Khaleej Times