Image copyright Nand Kumar Image caption The crash happened early in the morning on Thursday

At least 15 Indian children have been killed and 45 others injured after a school bus they were travelling in collided with a truck in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

The crash happened on Thursday morning in Etah, around 265km (164 miles) from the state's capital, Lucknow.

A senior police officer told the BBC that 14 students "were in a critical condition".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "anguished by the tragic accident".

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Police spokesperson Rahul Srivastava said the exact cause of the accident was yet to be ascertained.

But he added that visibility was poor because of dense fog at the time of the crash.

The victims were aged between three and 12 years and were studying in a local school.

India has the world's highest number of road deaths, with an accident taking place every four minutes.

More than 146,000 people were killed in road accidents in 2015.

Most crashes are blamed on reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and ageing vehicles.</s>At least 15 children killed and several others wounded after speeding truck collides with school bus in Uttar Pradesh.

At least 15 children were killed and several others wounded after a speeding truck collided with a school bus in northern India.

NDTV, a privately run TV channel, said there were around 30 children on board, aged between seven and 10 years old.

The NDTV report said that the school bus driver died instantly while the truck driver was admitted to hospital.

Javeed Ahmed, a senior police official, said the children were on their way to a school in Etah town, Uttar Pradesh state, some 270km southeast of New Delhi.

Police said it was not clear what had caused the vehicles to crash although collisions are a common occurrence on winter mornings, when northern India is frequently blanketed with thick fog.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences to the victims' families.

"Anguished by the tragic accident in UP's Etah district," he said. "I pray for those injured in the accident in Etah recover at the earliest."

Nearly 150,000 people were killed across India in road accidents last year, an average of 400 a day, according to data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.</s>A truck loaded with sand has collided with a school bus, killing at least 24 young children in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

At least two dozen other children were injured early on Thursday when the speeding truck collided head-on with the bus, said Javeed Ahmed, the state's most senior police official.

The children, between the ages of three and 12, were studying at a school in the town of Etah.

Another police officer, Daljeet Chaudhry, said visibility was low due to dense fog.

Mr Ahmed said rescuers were working to free several children still trapped in the wreckage.

The state's education authorities had closed all schools in the district due to a severe cold snap.

Mr Ahmed said the authorities would check why the school had stayed open.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences, saying: "Anguished by tragic accident in UP's Etah. I share the pain of the bereaved families & condole (the) passing away of young children."

Accidents are common on Indian roads, with most blamed on reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and ageing vehicles.</s>Etah: At least 15 children killed, some others injured as school bus collides with lorry in UP’s Etah district, said UP Police.

IPS officer of UP, Javeed tweeted, Tragic road accident in Aliganj Etah. Over 15 school kids feared dead. Rescue of injured ongoing.

ANI tweeted, School was open against the order of district admin to close schools due to cold. More than 2 dozen children died: UP DGP on Etah accident</s>Over 20 school children reportedly died in the Etah district of Agra division, when a school bus ferrying them to the school collided with a truck on the Etah-Aliganj road. The driver of the bus was also killed in the accident.

Over three dozen kids have also been injured in the accident that happened around 9 am near village Asadpur in Aliganj. However, the exact number of casualties could not be ascertained as the police claimed that the number of school children killed in the accident is much lower.

Javeed Hameed, DGP, Uttar Pradesh, said in a tweet that around 15 children are feared dead in the accident.

Additional Director General of Police, Baljit Singh Chowdhary confirmed that 25 kids had died in the accident, however, Inspector General of Police Agra Zone Sujeet Pandey claimed that the total number of deceased was just 13, which included 10 children, two passerby girls, and the bus driver.

According to District Magistrate of Etah, Shambunath, the school bus and the truck were traveling at a high speed and low visibility due to dense fog could have caused the collision.

India Today TV also reported that the truck, which was on its way from Dewaria to Delhi fell into a gorge as the driver failed to negotiate a curve due to thick fog in the area.

The truck, which had entered the no-entry zone without permission, collided head-on with the bus and slid off the road, falling into a roadside ditch. The driver and cleaner of the truck survived the accident while the bus driver got stuck in the bus and died on the spot.

Sub Divisional Magistrate Aliganj Mohan Singh told Firstpost that dead bodies of the schoolkids, all kindergartners of JS Public School Aliganj, were recovered from the wreckage of the bus using gas cutters. Some of the bodies were mangled beyond recognition and the police had to use the children's school IDs to confirm their identity.

Over three dozen kids, who were injured in the accident were rushed to a nearby nursing home where they are being treated. While schools in the state have been closed until 19 January due to poor weather conditions, the JS Public school to which the bus belonged was open in clear contravention of the orders, according to Shambhunath.

However, the District Magistrate assured that the administration will take action against the school in this case, adding that a enquiry has been launched into how the truck entered the no-entry zone without permission. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his sorrows over the accident on Twitter.</s>School children travel to school on a packed auto-rickshaw in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, November 25, 2014. — Reuters picNEW DELHI, Jan 19 — At least 15 children were killed and dozens more injured when a school bus collided with a truck in northern India today, police said.

The driver of the bus also died in the crash, the latest deadly accident in a country with one of the worst road safety records in the world.

“Tragic road accident in Aliganj, Etah. Over 15 school kids feared dead. Rescue of injured ongoing,” tweeted Javeed Ahmed, director general of police in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh where the crash occurred.

Police in Etah district subsequently confirmed via direct Twitter message that 15 children had died and said the number could increase to 20.

It is not yet clear what had caused the vehicles to crash, although collisions are a common occurrence on winter mornings, when northern India is frequently blanketed with thick fog.

Road accidents killed nearly 150,000 people in India last year, around 400 a day, according to the data from ministry of road transport and highways.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences to the victims’ families.

“Anguished by the tragic accident in UP’s Etah district,” he said. “I pray for those injured in the accident in Etah recover at the earliest.” — AFP</s>LUCKNOW, INDIA—A truck loaded with sand collided with a school bus early Thursday, killing at least 24 young children in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, police said.

At least two dozen other children were injured when the speeding truck collided head-on with the bus, said Javeed Ahmed, the state’s top police official.

The children, between the ages of 3 and 12, were studying at a school in the town of Etah.

Another police officer, Daljeet Chaudhry, said visibility was low due to dense fog.

Police officer Parasuram Singh said the truck driver suffered serious injuries to his legs, which were amputated at a hospital.</s>At least 24 children killed when bus, truck collide in India's Uttar Pradesh state

A truck loaded with sand has collided with a school bus, killing at least 24 children in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, police say.

At least 24 other children were injured when the speeding truck collided head-on with the bus, said Javeed Ahmed, the state's top police official.

The children, between the ages of 3 and 14, were studying at a school in the town of Etah.

Another police officer, Daljeet Chaudhry, said visibility was low due to dense fog.

Police officer Parasuram Singh said the truck driver suffered serious injuries to his legs.

The area is about 270 kilometres south-east of New Delhi.

State education authorities had closed all schools in the district because of a severe cold wave, and Mr Ahmed said authorities would check why the school had stayed open.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences, saying he was "anguished" by the event.

Accidents are common on Indian roads, with most blamed on reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and aging vehicles.</s>Lucknow: In a tragic incident, at least 25 school children were killed and many injured when a bus collided on Thursday with a truck in Etah district’s Aliganj in Uttar Pradesh.

The driver of the bus was also killed in the accident. According to eyewitnesses the accident took place due to poor visibility in the area.

A rescue team accompanied by locals rushed to the spot and took the injured children to a nearby hospital.

As per sources, the bus was carrying nearly 50 students of JS Vidya School when it collided with a truck in Aliganj area of Etah district.The truck was being driven at a high speed when the two vehicles collided head-on.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his anguish over the tragic incident and and sent his condolences to the family of the bereaved.

According to police, eight children were killed on the spot, while the rest were declared dead in the hospital.</s>At least 15 schoolchildren were killed on Thursday when a bus they were travelling in collided with a truck in Etah district’s Aliganj in Uttar Pradesh. The school was functioning despite the district administration’s order for closure due to cold conditions.

The superintendent of police confirmed 15 deaths and said the toll was feared to rise, with rescue efforts still on.

An eyewitness said the accident was caused by low visibility due to fog. The district magistrate of Etah has registered a case against the school because it was open despite an order for closure.

A team of doctors has been sent to the spot and those in a serious condition are being referred to Agra and Aligarh hospitals.

Initial reports said the children were enrolled at the JS Public School in Etah.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths the schoolchildren. “Anguished by the tragic accident...I share the pain of the bereaved families and condole passing away of young children,” Modi tweeted.

“I pray that those injured in the accident in Etah recover at the earliest,” he added.
At least 15 children are killed and 45 more are injured after a school bus collides with a truck in Etah, India.