Seven killed in Indian coal collapse

At least seven villagers were killed and five others injured when a heap of coal collapsed on them at a coal mine in eastern India.

About half a dozen villagers were feared to be trapped in the debris and rescue work was continuing, said Dikken Mehra, a spokesman for state-owned Mahanadi Coalfield Limited.

Mr Mehra said the villagers trespassed into the mine to steal coal in order to sell it, a common occurrence at mines in India.

The mine is about 640km west of Bhubaneshwar, the capital of Orissa state.