Jammu, Nov 10 - At least seven people were killed and 25 critically injured Tuesday when the bus they were travelling in skidded off the road and fell into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, an official said.

The driver of the bus, which was said to be overloaded, lost control around 11 a. m. at a sharp curve along the hilly road in Cheechbatian, about 245 km north of Jammu. The vehicle rolled down into a 300-feet-deep gorge.

Seven people have died and the injured are being shifted to Jammu, a police official told IANS over telephone.

The authorities have rushed choppers from Jammu for the rescue operation. (IANS)