A bus has plunged down a 40ft gorge after overturning on a major highway – killing three people and injuring at least 40.
Children and toddlers were among those injured in the accident, which has been linked to a burst tyre, while returning from a major religious festival.
The driver is thought to have lost control of the vehicle after a tyre burst around 20 miles outside Lucknow, India, according to initial reports.
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The vehicle then careened off the road and plummeted down the deep ravine, leaving the injured pilgrims trapped inside.
Footage from the scene shows a wrecked bus being pulled from the gorge as stunned rescue teams watch on in horror, as reported by Need To Know.
The windows can be seen completely blown out following the impact, with the external panelling also crumpled.
More than 50 police officers, fire crews and two State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams were deployed to the scene of the crash.
On arrival, agents from SDRF entered the bus and extracted injured passengers through the windows, before the 40 injured travellers were rushed to hospital.
Further clips show police officers carrying injured children away from the mangled vehicle and into waiting ambulances.
One of the fatal victims has been identified as 63-year-old Shankar Rajak.
Lucknow’s Police Commissioner Tarun Gauba reportedly visited the victims in the hospital as other senior officers ensured the smooth running of the rescue site.
Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath wished the injured victims a quick recovery.
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