NEW DELHI, May 1 (Xinhua) -- A speeding freight train crushed eight people to death and injured over a dozen others in India's eastern state of Bihar, police said Monday.

"In a tragic accident here last night, eight people including two women and two children were killed after a goods train overran them near Sirari railway station on Gaya-Kiul rail section here," a local police official told Xinhua.

"Over one dozen people were also injured in this accident, among whom two were critical," he said.

"The incident occurred when the people were crossing the railway track," the police official said.

Locals said the people could not spot the train due to thunderstorm.

The bad weather in the area was said to be the reason for the accident, reports said.

Authorities have ordered an inquiry into the accident to ascertain the cause of accident.