NEW DELHI, July 20 (Xinhua) -- The government in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand has sacked a top transport official in the wake of Thursday's bus accident that claimed 14 lives.

"Transport secretary D. Senthil Pandiyan has been removed from his post and replaced him with Commissioner of Garhwal region, Shailesh Bagoli," a senior official said Friday.

The sacking of the top transport official came after a bus skidded off a mountain road and plunged into a deep gorge in Tehri district, killing 14 people and leaving several others hurt.

Earlier this month, some 48 people lost their lives in another bus accident near Dhumakot in neighbouring Pauri district. The overloaded bus also fell into a deep gorge.

India has the highest number of road fatalities in the world. Road accidents occur mostly due to poor driving or badly maintained roads or vehicles.