SRINAGAR, India, Feb 26 (Reuters) - At least 12 people, including nine soldiers, were killed when their bus skidded and fell into a gorge in Indian Kashmir on Monday, police said.

Fifteen soldiers were injured in the accident that occurred in Udhampur area, about 240 km (150 miles) south of Srinagar, Kashmir's summer capital.

"The bus went off the road trying to negotiate a sharp curve and fell into a 300-feet deep gorge," Mohammad Ashraf, a police officer said. The army had hired a private bus to send soldiers to a nearby camp.

Accidents on narrow mountainous roads in Kashmir are common.

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