According to sources, seven people were killed and 44 others were injured when a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus careened 100 feet down a steep hillside to a gorge  on Tuesday.

The accident occurred at a hairpin turn at around 1.20pm, police sources said. The bus was stated to have been traveling from to Hogenakkal from Dharmapuri.

“As of now, we have recovered seven bodies from the gorge. The death toll may increase,” said the police.

The injured were immediately rushed to nearest government hospital.