The massive mound of earth- more than 820 feet of the mine - collapsed at around 7.30 pm as a worker headed towards the exit gate.

23 people are missing, said senior police official RK Mallick to NDTV. Nine bodies have been recovered so far.

Dozens of vehicles are stuck under tons of earth. Hundreds of emergency workers battled overnight to rescue the men at the Lalmatia open cast mine in Jharkhand's Godda district.

Authorities dispatched more than 200 rescue workers from the central National Disaster Management Authority to the site to help with rescue work.

Chief Minister Raghubar Das said that he has directed speedy rescue and relief efforts. "All senior officials have been asked to stay at the site," he said on Twitter.

"Jharkhand Government & Minister @PiyushGoyal are working to restore normalcy," tweeted PM Narendra Modi.

The mine is operated by the government-owned Eastern Coalfields Limited.

Emergency workers are using mechanical diggers to rescue those trapped in the debris.

The miners are employed by a private contractor and work round-the-clock.