At least 21 people were killed and over 50 others injured ina bus accident in Gujarat's Banaskantha on Monday. The ghastly mishap took place at Trishulia Ghat, a hilly patch on the Ambaji-Danta road near Ambajitown of Banaskantha district, around 160 km from here, when the victims were returning home after visiting a temple, officials said.

The private luxury bus, carrying around 70 passengers,tipped over at Trishulia Ghat after the driver lost control over the vehicledue to heavy rain in the area, Banaskantha district SP Ajit Rajian said.Meanwhile,Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief on the loss of lives in the tragicaccident.

"Devastating news from Banaskantha. I am extremelypained by the loss of lives due to an accident. In this hour of grief, mythoughts are with the bereaved families."The local administration isproviding all possible help to the injured. May they recover soon," thePrime Minister said in a tweet.

He said, "21 persons travelling in a private bus diedafter the vehicle overturned at Trishulia Ghat.

"The bus driver lost control due to heavy rain as thetyres slipped on the road when brakes were applied. We pulled out 53 personsalive from the bus using a crane."

These injured passengers were referred to Danta town'sreferral hospital and Palanpur civil hospital, said Rajian.

The SP along with district collector Sandip Sagale rushed toDanta hospital after the accident.

According to Sagale, 35 of the 53 injured are in criticalcondition and referred to the civil hospital at Palanpur, the administrativeheadquarters of the district, from Danta.

"We have deployed more doctors at both the hospitals totreat the injured and carry out post-mortem.

"All the passengers were residents of Anklav village ofAnand taluka and returning after visiting Ambaji temple," said Sagale.

The Trishulia Ghat is the same spot, where nine people hadlost their lives in June last when a multi-utility vehicle overturned after itsbrakes failed at a sharp turn.

Sagale said the state government plans to convert the roadpassing through the Trishulia Ghat into a four-lane pathway.