Hyderabad:
Twelve people, including 21 children, were killed and 15 others seriously injured after a train rammed into a school bus at an unmanned railway crossing at Chegunta in Telangana's Medak district today.
"12 students and the bus driver were killed while 15 children were grievously injured in the accident at the unmanned railway crossing," DIG N Suryanaarayana told PTI.
Police said the toll may rise as some of the children were critically injured.
According to Telangana Government Railway Police Inspector General Kripanand Tripathi Ujela, 12 boys and the school bus driver were killed on the spot after their bus was hit by the passenger train.
"The injured students have been rushed to different hospitals in Hyderabad," the IG told PTI.
State Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao reviewed the situation with Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma and DGP Anurag Sharma. He ordered the officials to take necessary steps to extend all medical assistance to the injured.
Telangana Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao and Transport Minister P Mahender Reddy visited a hospital where the injured were admitted and also rushed to the accident spot.
State Home Minister Naini Narsimha Reddy expressed his condolences and said a thorough inquiry will be conducted.
"It is a sad incident. A thorough inquiry will be conducted and action will be taken against those responsible," he said.
