INUNDATION, A MINE DISASTER, CAN IT BE AVERTED?

UPDATE

PREAMBLE

The coal mines in India have experienced quite a few cases of inundation of underground mine workings resulting in loss of lives and resources. In last 100 years more than 15 major cases of inundation have occurred as outlined hereunder.


Sl.No. Year Mine Live lost Remarks
1 1912 Phularitand Colliery in Jharia Coalfield (JCF) 23 Breaking of embankment of a water tank
2 1935 Loyabad Colliery in JCF 11 Connecting to old waterlogged workings
3 1958 Central Bhowra Colliery in JCF 23 Inrush of water from old workings
4 1975 Chasnale Colliery in JCF 375 Connecting to old waterlogged workings
5 1983 Hurriladih Colliery in JCF 19 Connecting to waterlogged workings
6 1995 Gazlitand Colliery in JCF 64 Breach of embankment of nearby water course
7 2001 Community Development in Coal Mining Complexes 1 Connecting to old waterlogged workings
8 2001 Chaitudih Colliery in JCF 1 Connecting to old waterlogged workings
9 1953 Majri Colliery in Chandrapura Coalfield 11 Inundation from Wardha river
10 1954 Newton Chikli Colliery in Parasia Coalfield 63 Connecting to old waterlogged workings
11 1956 Burra Demo Colliery in Raniganj Coalfield (RCF) 28 Connecting to old waterlogged workings
12 1942 Makerwal mine 14 --
13 1993 Jotetanki mine 13 --
14 1975 Silewara Colliery in Kamptu Coalfield 10 Connecting to old waterlogged stowed goaf
15 1976 Central Sounda Colliery in South Karanpura Coalfield 10 Flooding from surface
16 1989 Mahabir 6 Connecting to waterlogged workings

It is seen from the above data that

The incidences of above inundation disasters in coal mines call for an introspect so as to answer the following questions.

  1. Is our coal mining industry fully aware of the potential of inundation disasters?
  2. Does the Coal Mines Regulations provide enough safeguard against prevention of inundation?
  3. Does the present system of mine planning takes care of the precautions that are required to be taken against inundation?
  4. Is our coal mining industry adequately equipped for planning, design and implementation of mines with due regard to the safety against inundation?
  5. Have our mines identified potential areas of inundation disasters?

PREVIOUS
HOME
NEXT

       Home   ENVIS     Newsletter     MINENVIS28     Monograph     ENVIS Centre     Library     Contact