COIMBATORE: At least 36 people got injured after a private mini bus they were travelling in plunged into a 100-foot deep gorge near Ooty in the Nilgiris on Wednesday.

The bus was passing through the Manalada area when its driver, Panneerselvam (54), lost control and veered off the road. The vehicle rolled down multiple times before overturning into a 100-foot deep gorge.

Passengers trapped inside the severely damaged bus screamed for help. Of the 36 passengers, 21 were men, 12 were women, and three were children. They all were rescued and rushed to a nearby Primary Health Centre (PHC) and the Nilgiris Government Medical College Hospital for treatment.

The fire and rescue service personnel recovered the wreckage of the bus from the gorge. Preliminary inquiry revealed that the accident may have occurred due to a steering lock failure. An inquiry is under way.