New Delhi - At least 23 passengers were killed and 33 injured Saturday when a bus plunged into a gorge in India's western Maharashtra state.

The government-run bus was negotiating a steep curve and fell into a 31-metre gorge in the Raigad district district, 150 kilometres south-west of state capital Mumbai, police told the IANS news agency.

Many of the passengers succumbed to their injuries on the spot, while 20 injured were moved to a hospital in Mumbai.

New Delhi  - At least 15 passengers were killed and 38 injured Saturday when a bus plunged into a gorge in India's western Maharashtra state, a news report said.

The accident occurred when a government-run bus was negotiating a steep curve in the Raigad district district, some 150 kilometres south-west of state capital Mumbai, police told the IANS news agency.

Many of the passengers succumbed to their injuries on the scene while 20 wounded were moved to a hospital in Mumbai.

The death toll could rise as some of the injured were in a serious condition, the report said.

Mumbai, Oct 31: Softened his stand on celebration of ''Chhat'' puja in Maharashtra, MNS chief Raj Thackery today said that he was not opposed to the festival being celebrated in the State but warned against it being used as a show of political strength.

"I have never opposed ‘Chhat’ puja but only spoke against political stunt associated with it.... People from Bihar who live here can perform the religious rituals according to their customs. My party has never opposed it," he said while addressing a press conference.

Nanded (Maharashtra) Oct 30 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today said that national unity and integrity is under threat from "divisive" forces and terrorism, which needed to be combated collectively.

Addressing a function at Nanded while participating in Tri-centenary celebrations of Guru Granth Saheb, he said there are forces who want people to fight among themselves.

Nanded (Maharashtra), Oct 30 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today said that adequate measures have been taken to ensure law and order in Maharashtra which has witnessed attacks against North Indians.

Talking to reporters here Deshmukh said, "The situation in the state is under total control and adequate measures have been taken to ensure law and order."

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil had on Tuesday spoken to Deshmukh and expressed hope that the State Government would act to check the violence.