At least 11 workers were killed and several still believed to be trapped after a coal mine collapsed in India's eastern state of Jharkhand, officials said Friday.

    A huge portion caved in near an exit gate of the open-cast mine in Godda district on Thursday evening. But rescue operations could begin only the next day as heavy smog in the area had reduced visibility.

    Twenty-three workers were reported missing at the government-owned mine after the accident, Jharkhand police spokesman said."Eleven bodies have been recovered from the debris in rescue operations while two workers have been hospitalized," general manager of the mine said .

    Police officials said 12 workers were still unaccounted for and feared trapped but coal mine officials insisted that only a couple more workers remained missing.

Source: QNA