Mine collapse kills at least 10 in eastern India, more feared trapped

At least 10 people have died and more are feared trapped after a coal mine partially collapsed in eastern India.

Part of the open cast coal mine in Jharkhand state fell in late on Thursday but heavy smog prevented rescue workers from entering the facility until early on Friday morning.

Estimates varied on the number of people still buried under the dirt. Officials said 13 people were missing but other reports indicated that as many as 50 people could be trapped.

Photographs from the scene also showed industrial vehicles overturned and buried.

Five teams of emergency workers from the National Disaster Response Force were dispatched to the site to help with the rescue effort.

According to local media, a slag heap collapsed and blocked the mine’s entrance.

Miners, thought to be mostly from the neighbouring Bihar state, were working more than 60 metres underground, the Times of India reported.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Saddened by the loss of lives at a mine in Jharkhand. My prayers are with those trapped inside.”

He added that local officials were working to “restore normalcy” and that he had been in contact with the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Raghubar Das, about the incident.

Mr Das announced on social media that the injured and familes of the deceased would receive compensation. He added: “God give strength to the families of the dead to endure the suffering.”

He visited the site and said those responsible for the disaster would be punished.

The coal mine is owned by the state government but is leased to a private contractor.

Jharkhand is one of India's poorest states but is rich in mineral resources. It has the third-highest coal deposits of India's 29 states and the country's highest deposits of iron ore.

Mining and related industries are the state's economic backbone.