'Uncontrolled' fire burns at Indian mine

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KOLKATA, India, June 29 (UPI) -- A fire was still burning Friday at a coal mine in India, and a security guard at the mine was feared dead, authorities said.

The blaze at the Belbundh mine in West Bengal was reported Wednesday, the Press Trust of India reported.

District Magistrate O.S. Meena, who visited the area, described the fire as "very violent and uncontrolled." He said the blaze appeared to be restricted to the area and there was no danger to villages less than a mile away.

Subhas Gour, a 45-year-old security guard, visited the mine with its general manager, R.R. Sharma late Thursday night, officials said. Sharma said he and another security guard were able to run to safety when a piece of heavy equipment fell as the earth collapsed beneath it.

Meena said earth was being used to block entrances to the mine in an effort to starve the fire of oxygen.