New Delhi  - At least 13 people were killed Friday when a bus fell 50 metres from a mountain road into a river in India's northern state of Uttarakhand, police said.

Three passengers were injured in the accident that occurred in the Veerbhatti area of the Nainital district, about 200 kilometres south-east of the state capital, Dehradun.

"Witnesses said the driver could not properly negotiate a bend on the road due to dense fog in the area," said Mukesh Kumar, the additional superintendent of police in Nainital.

The three wounded passengers were admitted to a local hospital where doctors said their condition was stable, police said.

According to World Road Statistics data for 2005, 94,985 people died in road accidents that year in India. (dpa)