As many as 7 people were killed when a private bus carrying wedding guests from Karnataka fell off road on top of a house at Pariyaram in Kerala's Kasargod district on Sunday. Among the dead were two children under five years. All the killed are natives of Karnataka. Most of the travellers sustained injuries and are reportedly in critical condition.

There were about 70 passengers on the bus and were headed to attend a marriage in a village along the Kerala-Karnataka border. While the bus was descending from a slope, it lost control and overturned before falling on top of a house, at least 20 feet beneath the road, said the police.

A major mishap was averted as there was no one at the house at the time of the accident. However, the house was completely damaged. Rescue operations by fire force and locals are underway.