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BENGALURU/ANANTAPUR:(TOI) Six people, including a legislator from Karnataka, were killed and 20 others were injured when a truck hit a coach of train in Andhra Pradesh early on Monday, officials said. Karnataka MLA Venkatesh Naik is among the dead.

 The driver of the granite-laden truck lost control and hit a coach of Nanded Express at a level crossing in Anantpur districtFive passengers travelling in H1 coach of Bangalore-Nanded train and the truck driver were killed in the accident, that also led to derailment of two other coaches.

 The accident occurred at a level crossing at Madakasira in Penukonda mandal of Anantapur district, affecting the train movement on Bangalore-Guntakal route.

The passengers with simple injuries were admitted to a hospital in Penukonda. The gate at the level crossing was closed. The lorry crashed into the railway gate before hitting the train passing through the level crossing.

 The lorry driver and the cleaner also died in the mishap. Train services on the Bangalore-Guntakal railway line have been hit following the train accident. The railways rushed relief and rescue teams. The passengers were fast asleep when the mishap occurred. They woke up in shock and rushed out of the compartments.

 This is the first time in recent times that a lorry had hit a train leading to the death of train passengers.

 Dr Ramesh, an eye witness, told media that he woke up to a thud sound around 2.30 am and by the time they came to terms, theIr coach had derailed.

 "We escaped unhurt but the scene outside was tragic. The lorry which had hit the train was damaged and those inside were severely injured. Passengers in other coaches that had got derailed were crying for help," he added.

 Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and leader of the opposition YS Jaganmohan Reddy expressed shock over the incident. The state government directed the local administration to provide better medical facilities to the injured.

 Karnataka minister for medical education and district in-charge minister for Raichur Sharan Prakash Patil has expressed shock over the train accident.

 "MLA Venkatesh Naik who has succumbed to injuries in the train accident, was a close friend of mine and a well wisher. He had won the love of the people in his constituency and for the same reason he kept his winning streak on over the years. He was a humble human being and used to attend to the problems of people regularly," he added.
 The railways have set up helpline numbers to provide information to the kin of the passengers. They are: On South Western Railway the helpline will operate from Bangalore Cantonment (phone No. 080 2333 9163). The helpline at Penukonda station can be accessed through 08555-220244.

 According to an SCR official statement, the mishap occurred at 2.23am while the train No.16594 Bangalore City - Nanded Express was passing through a level crossing gate between Rangepalli and Penukonda stations on Dharmavaram section of Bangalore division of South Western Railway. "A lorry hit the train breaking the closed level crossing gate," it added.

Hyderabad:  A Congress lawmaker was among five people killed when a truck rammed the Bangalore-Nanded Express in Andhra Pradesh early this morning.

 Venkatesh Naik, the Congress legislator from Devadurg in Karnataka, and two other train riders were killed. The driver and cleaner of the truck were also killed.

 The accident took place at around 2.20 am at a level crossing in Anantapur district. Railway officials say the brakes of the truck, which was carting granite, failed. The speeding vehicle crashed through the barricade of the crossing and then hit the train.

 Four coaches of the train derailed. Train movement in the region has been affected.

 "One lorry filled with stones broke closed gate and dashed into the train. Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu is monitoring the development," said Railways Spokesperson Anil Saxena.

 Rescue work has been launched by railway officials and the local police.

Earlier this month, at least 28 people were killed after two trains derailed in Madhya Pradesh as heavy rain weakened the tracks at an area near Harda, about 160 kilometres from state capital Bhopal.

Helpline numbers:

Bangalore Railway station: 08022354108, 0731666751, 08022156553
 Accident site: 09701374062, 09493548005, 09448090399, 00873763945549