President condoles deaths in Telangana accident

President Pranab Mukherjee Thursday condoled the death of 19 students in an accident where a train hit a school bus at an unmanned railway crossing in Telangana.

In his message to Telangana Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, Mukherjee said: "I am extremely saddened to learn about the accident in which some school children lost their lives and many others are critically injured after a passenger train hit a school bus at an unmanned railway crossing in Telangana. I understand relief operations are underway."

"I am sure the state government and other agencies are taking necessary steps to provide urgent medical assistance to the injured and all possible aid to the bereaved families," he said.

The president also asked for his "heartfelt condolences" to be conveyed to the families of those killed in the accident.

"I wish speedy recovery to the injured persons," he said.

At least 19 students were killed and some 20 other children injured when a private school bus was rammed by a train at Masayipet, about 70 km from Hyderabad.