NEW DELHI, June 24 (RIA Novosti) - At least 26 people were killed and 20 injured when two buses crashed head-on in India's northernmost state of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, IANS news agency reported.

The vehicles collided around 45 km north of the city of Jammu. The bodies of 26 victims have so far been pulled out from the wreckage.

"Rash driving by the drivers of the two vehicles is the reason for the accident," the agency quoted a local traffic police chief as saying.

At least 20 people other injured, all of whom are in critical condition.

The News Agency of Kashmir and Press Trust of India reported, however, that the fatalities were from a single bus that failed to negotiate a sharp curve and rolled down a cliff.