MUMBAI - At least 33 passengers were killed on Wednesday when an overloaded bus fell into a river in northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, according to local media.

Thirty-three bodies have been recovered and 14 injured persons rescued and rushed to hospital, while some bodies are feared to have been swept away in the river, a local official said.

The bus, with more than 60 passengers on board, was driving on the Kullu-Mandi national highway when it fell into the Beas river near Jhiri, 20-km from the town of Kullu in Himachal Pradesh state.

The bus driver jumped off the bus before it plunged into the river, local police said.

Rescue teams are still searching for the missing in the river.