At least 17 workers were killed and dozens injured when a mound of earth collapsed on them.

The incident happened in Sukinda mining area of Jajpur district while they were extracting laterite from a quarry.

"A group of workers had gone to a quarry to extract laterite in a mining area located under Sukinda police station. A portion of the quarry suddenly collapsed on them," District Superintendent of Police D.S. Kutey said.

The exact number of workers at the open laterite mine in Jajpur district, about 150 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, was not known, Kuttey said.

The district administration fears that there could be two or three more people stuck under the debris.

Police and fire brigade teams have rushed to the spot.