NEW DELHI - At least 18 persons were killed and dozens of others seriously injured when a passenger train crashed into a goods train in the southeast Indian state of Andhra Pradesh early Tuesday, said police.

The Bangalore-bound Hampi Express rammed into a stationary goods train at Penukonda station in Penukonda district of the state, after overshooting the signal.

The first bogie with 46 passengers caught fire, while the second, third and fourth bogies derailed, said local daily The Hindu.

The death toll is likely to increase further as many passengers were trapped inside the overturned bogies and were feared to have been burnt to death.

Andhra Pradesh, chief minister N. Raghuveera Reddy and other senior officials rushed to site of the accident to organize rescue operation.

Local TV footages showed injured people being carried out of the damaged bogies on stretchers by rescuers and one of the bogie was completely destroyed.

Train collision takes place from time to time in India mainly due to man errors. However, this is the first major train collision accident in India this year.