Modi talks to Jharkhand CM over coal mine tragedy

New Delhi, Dec 30 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed grief over the loss of lives in a coal mine accident in Jharkhand and spoke to Chief Minister Raghubar Das to take stock of the situation.

"Saddened by the loss of lives at a mine in Jharkhand. My prayers are with those trapped inside. Spoke to Raghubar Das on the situation," said Modi in a tweet.

The Prime Minister said the Jharkhand government and Union Power and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal were working to restore normalcy.

"The National Disaster Response Force has been engaged for rescue and relief operations," he added.

At least five bodies were recovered and over 20 persons were feared trapped as heap of mud caved in at the entry point of Eastern Coalfields Limited's Lalmatia mines in Godda district on Thursday night.

The Eastern Coalfields said its Chairman-cum-Managing Director and director personnel were on their way to the accident site.

District administration has also been camping at the site since Thursday night and monitoring the rescue operation.