Gas blast traps 17 in China coal mine

Beijing, July 6: At least 17

remain trapped in a coal mine in

after a gas

, media reported on Sunday.

The blast occurred at 8.43 p.m. Saturday when 20 people were working inside the mine in Xinjiang province. Three of them have been rescued.

Rescuers have started pouring nitrogen into the mine to dilute the gas concentration Sunday, Xinhua reported.

This process needs to be continued for a day before one enters the pit, the rescuers said.

IANS