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 12 others in the vehicle, police said. Seven of the injured were hospitalized in serious condition, said I. Raja, an inspector-general of police. The Press Trust of India news agency earlier reported that 13 people had died in the accident near Thirumatpur, a village in the Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu state. The village is about 90 kilometers (55 miles) southwest of Chennai, the state capital. The train dragged the minibus for nearly one kilometer (half a mile) before coming to a halt, Raja said. The driver of the minibus and 10 local council officials died in the accident, and the 12 other passengers _ also council officials _ were injured, Raja said. -- SPA
