18 children and a bus driver were killed when a passenger  train rammed into their  school bus Thursday morning in Telangana, southern India.

The accident happened in an unmanned crossing near Masaipet and Medak Villages.

15 of the students in the bus are in critical condition and being treated at local hospitals.

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They were on their way to school when the passenger train crashed into the bus and dragged it hundreds of feet along the tracks.

Many villagers angrily rushed to the area where the accident happened and threw stones at the police as parents grieved for their children's lost lives.

According to Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao, a father suffered from a heart attack and died after hearing the news that he lost both of his children due to the collision.

An investigation is now underway to know how the accident happened and find out what could have been lapses on both sides.

Accidents like this are very common on India's railroad network with a daily volume of 11,000 passenger trains and 23 million people riding.

Poor maintenance, poor finances and human error are the reasons blamed for these accidents.

Last month, a train derailed in Bihar state and killed four people and injured 10.

In May, there were at least 20 people who were killed in Uttar Pradesh State when a train hit a goods stationary train.

Tagscollision, passenger train, 18 children died