Bhubaneswar: Two passengers were killed and 16 others were injured when a minibus collided with a train engine at an unmanned level-crossing between Gurudijhatia and Machhapur in Orissa under Khurda road division of the East Coast Railway, Railway sources said.

While one passenger, travelling in the front portion of the vehicle, died on the spot, another succumbed to his injuries at the S C B Medical College Hospital at Cuttack.

The accident occurred when the minibus, with 18 passengers on board, dashed against the "multi-light" engine from behind while passing through the crossing at around 16:35 hours (IST), the sources said.

The engine, unattached with any rake, was moving backward when it was struck by the minibus.

All the injured had been admitted to the public health centre at Gurudijhatia and one of them was later discharged after being administered first-aid.

Railway traffic was not affected following the mishap, the sources said.

The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Khurda Road, N K Singhal rushed to the spot in a special train with a team of three doctors.

The deceased were identified as Prabhakar Sethi and Pradi Muduli.

PTI