Hyderabad: At least 10 persons were feared killed after a mine collapsed at Singareni Collieries Coal Limited (SCCL) in Karimnagar district of Andhra Pradesh on October 17 night, while the state government has ordered an inquiry and announced an ex-gratia of Rs six lakh each to the bereaved families.

Twelve persons were trapped when the roof of the underground mine at GVK 8 incline of Godavarikhani caved in during the night shift at 1.30 AM, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu told reporters in Hyderabad adding that two persons were rescued while four bodies have been traced.

Rescue works are in full swing for the remaining six persons, feared still under the debris, he said.

"We will conduct an inquiry into the accident and also ensure that safety measures are strictly followed at SCCL," Naidu said.

The Chief Minister said that he has asked Deputy Transport Minister Damodar Reddy to rush to the spot and monitor the rescue work.

Announcing the ex-gratia, he said the amount would be jointly disbursed by the state government and SCCL and children of the victims would be provided free education and housing facilities.

This is the second major mishap in less than four months at Godavarikhani of SCCL.

Seventeen coal miners were killed when water gushed in from an underground mine and the walls collapsed in June.

PTI