Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 25 (IANS): Six engineering students and an elderly man were killed and several others injured when the bus they were travelling in rolled 150 feet down a hillside in the hilly Idukki district Monday, an official said.

The students of the Sarabhai Institute of Science and Technology here had got together and planned the trip.

The principal of the college said the college authorities were not involved in it, and were yet to ascertain the identities of the students who were killed in the accident.

One of the killed engineering students was a girl. The elderly man was part of the bus crew. The incident occurred about 170 km from the state capital.

There were 41 students of the final year batch at the college on the trip. They included 13 girls.

Eyewitnesses said the bus was coming from Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu, and driving towards Munnar when it skidded off the road and rolled downhill.

The condition of two of the injured is said to be serious.

State Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said the medical expenses for all those injured would be borne by the government.

"Right now, our aim is to see that the injured get the best treatment and authorities are ensuring that," Radhakrishnan said.