At least 14 schoolchildren were killed and 18 others were injured when a school bus fell into a canal on Tuesday in Khammam district of southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, said police.

Over 40 children were in the bus when it plunged into the canal, as the bus driver tried to avoid collision with a bike.

This is the second time for school bus to meet with ill fate in the state within one month. Last month, four children were killed when a bus they were riding fell into a river in East Godavari district of the state.