NEW DELHI - At least 40 people were killed and 17 injured Saturday when an overloaded bus fell into a deep gorge in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, said police.

This is the second deadly bus incident in India in days after over 30 were killed when a bus fell into a gorge in the northeast Indian state of Meghlaya on Wednesday.

The bus was going to the Himalayan town of Chamba when it skidded off the slippery road and fell into the 300-feet deep gorge near Rajera, some 10km from the town and 475km from the state capital Shimla, said police.

Local authorities organized rescue operation and sent the injured to a hospital in Chamba. Rescue workers said 32 people died on the spot while eight died while being taken to hospital.

Witnesses said the bus was overcrowded and the driver probably lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a turn.

The area where the accident took place experienced some heavy rains over the past few days.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and the state 's leader of opposition Vidya Stokes have expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

Overcrowding is blamed for frequent bus accidents in India.

Over 110,000 people are reportedly killed on the road each year in the country.