11 Killed in India Train Crash

CHENNAI, India – A passenger train crashed into a minibus carrying local council officials at an unmanned rail crossing in southern India on Monday, killing 11 people and injuring another 12 in the vehicle, police said.

Seven of the injured were hospitalized in serious condition, said I. Raja, an inspector-general of police. The vehicle was carrying a total of 23 people.

The accident occurred near Thirumatpur, a village in Tamil Nadu state. The village is about 55 miles southwest of Chennai, the state capital.

The train dragged the minibus for nearly half a mile before coming to a halt, the police officer said.

Rail crossings in India generally have attendants who manually raise and lower the guard gates. However, smaller rail crossings are mostly unmanned, and rural buses and other vehicles are often hit by speeding trains.