Heart-wrenching scenes of mangled bodies of school children at the unmanned level-crossing at Masaipet of Veldurthi mandal of Medak district in the newly formed Telangana State triggered shock and anguish across the country.

14 children, all under Class VII were killed when the Hyderabad-bound Nanded passenger train rammed into their school bus this morning. The bus driver, trained to drive a tractor, reportedly refused to stop the bus as the train approached leading to the tragic accident. The cleaner too died.

Twenty children, some of them injured seriously, have been admitted to private hospitals in Hyderabad. The condition of seven is stated to be critical. The bus was carrying 36 students from nearby villages to a private school Toopran in the district.

A father, who lost two kids in the mishap, has suffered a major heart attack on hearing the news and was admitted to hospital.

The State Government and South Central Railway ordered independent inquires into the ghastly accident. The State Government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased children, while the Railways have announced Rs 2 lakh each.

The Telangana CM, K Chandrasekhara Rao expressed anger and displeasure at the SCR, whose General Manager, PK Srivastava stated that gates would be fixed within a week at all level crossings which needed them.

The Chief Minister held a review meeting with Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma and DGP Anurag Sharma on the accident. He later visited Yashoda Hospital where the children were being treated. Several State ministers and Janasena Party President Pawan Kalyan too visited the injured.

President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao, Congress President Sonia Gandhi have expressed shock and grief over the tragedy.

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