The death toll from a bus accident in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh has risen to 14, officials said Saturday.

According to officials, 40 passengers were injured in the accident and were admitted to various hospitals for treatment, and some of the injured are in critical condition.   

A passenger bus skidded off the road and fell into a 500-meter-deep gorge in Haripurdhar village of Sirmaur district, about 142 kilometers southeast of Himachal Pradesh's capital Shimla, on Friday.   

Local Government Minister Jagat Singh Negi confirmed that 14 people had died so far and many were still in critical condition in the hospital. 

According to officials, there were 66 passengers on the bus and the bus was going from Solan to Haripurdhar when the accident occurred. 

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident, India's All India Radio reported.