SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- Around a dozen people are feared killed and at least 15 others injured Saturday after a mini-bus carrying them skidded off a mountainous road and fell into deep gorge in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.

The accident took place near KalaMorh in Ramban district, about 135 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Today a mini-bus carrying passengers skidded off the road here and fell into gorge," Showkat Aijaz Bhat, deputy commissioner Banihal told Xinhua. "We have sent rescue teams to the spot and right now our concern is to remove injured to hospitals."

"The rescue operation is underway and so far 15 people have been rescued in injured condition from the deep gorge," Bhat said. "I have sought help from air force to airlift critically injured to Jammu hospitals."

Bhat said there are reports about deaths but the exact toll was yet to come.

"Of course there are deaths also, but at this point we aren't sure about the exact toll," he said.

Reports said no sooner the news about accident spread, locals and police rushed to the spot to carry out rescue work.

Deadly road accidents are common in India, which are often caused due to overloading, bad condition of roads and reckless driving.