NEW DELHI, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least six workers were killed and four others critically injured after a fire broke out in a coal mine in India's northeastern state of Nagaland, officials said Friday.

The mishap took place Thursday afternoon inside a rat-hole coal mine at Wokha district, about 132 km north of Kohima, the capital city of Nagaland.

"The six coal miners were charred to death and the four injured are in critical condition," Achumbemo Kikon, a local lawmaker said.

The injured have been referred to a hospital in Dimapur.

It is said that a rock breaker triggered the fire in the coal mine. The local administration has ordered a probe into the incident.

The rat-hole mining entails digging into the side of hills and then burrowing horizontal narrow tunnels to reach a coal deposit. Although illegal, Kikon said rat-hole mining has been going on in his constituency rampantly. Enditem

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