At least 22 people were killed in a train accident when Sabarmati Express collided head on with a goods train near Samaliya village in Vadodara district of Gujarat in west India early Thursday, NDTV reported.

Indian senior government officials said the death toll could be much higher. Two assistant drivers are among those killed.

Over 70 people have been found injured and 15 passengers are still believed to be trapped in the debris.

The incident happened at around 3:20 AM (local time). At least five coaches were badly mangled.

Nearly 50 people have also been given first aid and dispatched to their homes, the report quoted a Gujarat official as saying.

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2005)