(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-01-21 14:51

MUMBAI, India -- A bus carrying Hindus on a religious pilgrimage skidded off a hill in western India and plunged into a gorge, killing at least 38 people and injuring 40 others, police said Monday.

Five children and 17 women were among the dead, said police inspector R.D. Jadhav at the Nashik police station, near the scene of the accident about 155 miles east of Mumbai. The crash took place shortly before midnight Sunday, he added.

The bus was only made to seat 45 people but was carrying about 80 passengers when it crashed, Jadhav said. The driver, who survived, fled the scene.