NEW DELHI, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- At least two people have been killed and more than seven others injured in a head-on collision between a school bus and an auto-rickshaw in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh Thursday, police said.

The accident occurred near Salempalem in the state's Krishna district, around 150 km from Andhra Pradesh capital Hyderabad.

"The school bus, carrying some 30 children, collided with the auto-rickshaw coming from the opposite direction after its driver lost control of the speeding vehicle while overtaking a car this morning. The victims were all occupants of the auto-rickshaw," a police official said.

While two women died on the spot, those injured have been admitted to Avanigadda Government Hospital, where the condition of four are said to be serious, he said. "Fortunately all the school kids escaped unhurt."

A probe has been ordered into the incident, he said. "The bus driver has been arrested and could be booked for rash and negligent driving based on the probe report. The vehicle has also been seized," the official added.

Road accidents occur in India mostly due to poor driving or badly maintained roads and vehicles.