The management of Godavarikhani mines in Andhra Pradesh, where 17 miners died last week, did not obtain the statutory permission from the Directorate General of Mine safety to undertake mining operation, DGMS Director Ravindra Sharma said on Tuesday.

The DGMS came to know about this fact after an on-the-spot inquiry into the tragedy in which 17 workers met with a watery grave, Sharma said.

Detailed report about the inquiry findings would be submitted to the Centre within a month, he said. As per preliminary reports, he added, the mine management could not escape the blame for the tragedy.

Four senior officials of the Singareni Collieries Company Ltd have been already suspended after a preliminary enquiry found them negligent in following necessary safety norms.

Sharma said the officials responsible for the tragedy already admitted their 'faults'.