SHIMLA, Sept. 24: About 30 persons were feared drowned when a bus plunged into the Gobind Sagar reservoir this morning at Rayian near Bilaspur, 95-km from here.

Twelve bodies have so far been recovered and the bus has been pulled out of the water, Bilaspur Deputy Commissioner Ajay Sharma said, adding that a search is on for those missing.

The exact number of passengers travelling on the bus is not known. The ill-fated bus belonging to a private transportation company was on its way from Rishikesh to Bilaspur and most of the passengers were locals.

The 40-seater bus was packed to capacity and some passengers were also said to have been travelling on its roof, sparking fears that the toll may rise.

Sharma, who was at the spot, said that rescue operations are on in full swing and divers of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) have been called in to fish out the bodies.

About half-a-dozen people who sustained injuries as they jumped off the bus in a bid to save themselves have been taken to a hospital in Bilaspur.