NEW DELHI - Some 27 people were killed while 25 others sustained serious injuries in a major road mishap in the northeastern Indian state of Meghalaya Wednesday, a police official said.

"The mishap happened when the bus in which the victims were travelling plunged into a deep gorge in the state's East Jaintia hills district near the border of the neighboring state of Assam at 4.30 a.m.. While 22 people died on the spot, the other five succumbed to their injuries on the way to hospital. The other injured people are undergoing treatment at the hospital," he said on condition of anonymity.

Senior police officials have rushed to the spot, the official said, adding that a probe has been ordered into the incident.