BOMBAY, India— A bus swerved off a mountain road and plunged 900 feet down a slope south of Bombay Friday, Killing at least 41 people and injuring eight others, transport and police officials said.

The mishap occurred before dawn as the government-owned bus was traveling from the city of Mangalore to the western port city of Bombay, about 450 miles to the north, police said.

The bus swerved off a winding mountain road in the Satara district of western Maharashtra state.

The news agency said rescue teams including some 200 policemen were working more than 12 hours after the crash to locate victims but were hampered by the rugged terrain.

The Press Trust of India news agency said 50 people were killed in the accident but the report could not be independentently confirmed.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 24, 1986