Twelve children were among 13 killed and eight other students injured when a truck collided with their school bus on the Jalandhar-Nakodar road this morning.

The condition of three children is serious.

The children were on their way to school when the mishap occurred near Jaheera village in Lambhra, close to Nakodar, Jalandhar Range's Inspector General of Police, Gurpreet Deo said.

The driver of the school mini bus, which was carrying 24 students, all in the age group of 8-10 years, was also killed in the mishap, she said.

A case of rash and negligent driving was registered against the truck driver, who fled after the accident.

"The mishap took place at 8:AM in Jaheera village when the bus of Akal Academy was taking students to the school," Jalandhar Rural SP (D) Rajinder Singh said.

While seven succumbed at the accident spot, others died on way to the hospital. Three students are serious and are admitted in a hospital while others are out of danger, he said.

The area where the mishap occurred is said to be prone to accidents.

The impact of the accident was so bad that the roof of the school mini bus was torn off and the vehicle was virtually reduced to a heap of metal.

School bags, tiffin boxes and colourful pencil boxes lay strewn at the site.

Most of the victims belonged to nearby villages. The bodies were taken to the Nakodar hospital and later handed over to their parents.

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal expressed grief over the loss of lives and directed the district authorities to provide immediate medical aid to the injured.

Jalandhar deputy Commissioner Shruti Singh announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the next of kin of those who died and free medical aid to the injured.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident.

Badal also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and directed the district administration to provide free treatment to all the injured.