Water began seeping from a nearby stream into the mine at Jamadoa, 40km (24 miles) from state capital Ranchi, at around 1800 local time (1230 GMT).

A supervisor has so far been rescued unconscious from the mine, Tata Iron and Steel Company officials said.

Rescue operations are under way with divers sent in to try to pull out the trapped miners.

"We are trying to save the lives of all the miners," federal minister of state for mines, Prahlad Patel, told the Zee TV channel.