The blast occurred around 3 pm yesterday at Niulanchu Coal Mine in Hunan Province, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Six miners died on the spot and one was injured seriously and sent to a local hospital.

Rescuers are still searching for one more miner who went missing after the blast, authorities said.

An initial investigation showed that mal-operations was to blame for the blast.

Further investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.

  

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First Published: Dec 18 2012 | 8:55 AM IST

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