Bus collides with train in northern India; 18 people killed

Eighteen people, including five children, were killed as a bus collided with train in northern India.

The accident took place shortly after 8 a.m. (0230 GMT) in Punjab's Moga district, 380 kilometers (236 miles) northwest of New Delhi, when a small bus collided with a train, according to a police officer at the control room of the local police headquarters. The officer spoke on the condition of anonymity in keeping with police custom in India, the AP reports.

The officer said about 18 to 20 people, including the 5 school children, were killed in the accident. He said investigators were still trying to figure out if all those killed were passengers on the bus or if some had been on the train.

The general manager of Northern Railways, Sriprakash, who goes by one name, said poor visibility caused by foggy weather was responsible for the accident.

"This is the mistake of the bus driver," he told the NDTV television station. "Apparently there was fog and visibility was low."

Accidents caused by reckless driving, aging vehicles and bad roads are common in India.