Fatal blasting-projectile accident at Gare Palma IV/2&3 Opencast Coal Mine, Chhattisgarh

भारत सरकार श्रम एंव रोजगार मंत्रालय खान सुरक्षा महाननदेशालय SAFETY ALERT: 10/2025 Dhanbad, dated 2 0 . 0 8 . 2 0 2 5 SUBJECT: Fatal accident occurred due to (cause) a blasting projectile hit and penetrated the truck mounted blasting shelter in which three persons inflicted injuries , of which one of the person was declared dead on arrival at the hospital, another succumbed to the injuries after two days while undergoing treatment and the third person received injuries of serious in nature at (location) overburden bench above IX Seam of Pit-1 of an Opencast coal mine.

1.

Name of Mine :

Gare Palma IV/2&3 Opencast Coal Mine 2.

Name of Owner :

M/s Jindal Power Limited District :

Raigarh State :

Chhattishgarh 3.

Mineral :

Coal 4.

Date and time of accident :

18.04.2025 & At about 1110Hours 5.

Place of accident :

On overburden bench above IX Seam of Pit-1 working towards the south- eastern side of the mine.

6.

Killed :

Name: Ayush Bishoyi Name: Chandrapaul Rathiya Designation: Assistant Engineer Designation: Blasting Helper Age: 24 years.

Age: 38 years.

Experience: 1 years in Blasting (work) Operation.

Experience: 1 years in Blasting (work) Operation.

7.

Seriously Injured :

Name: Shri Tarun Lal Nishad Designation: Blasting Helper Age: 44 years.

Experience: 1 years in Blasting (work) Operation.

8.

Brief Cause : “While a deep hole blasting was done in an opencast mine, a projectile measuring 30cm x 25cm x21 cm hit and penetrated the truck mounted blasting shelter kept at 165m from the blasting site in which three persons inflicted injuries , of which one of the person was declared dead on arrival at the hospital, another succumbed to the injuries after two days while undergoing treatment and the third person received injuries of serious in nature.” 9.

Sketch showing the accident:

Showing the pictures of accident site Bouder and Blood stains in Mobile shelter

10. Best Practices

(i) Ensure blast design parameters (burden, spacing, stemming, charge per hole, delay pattern) are strictly followed as per the approved blasting plan.

(ii) Ensure effective blasting signals and sirens are given before firing.

(iii) Ensure that only properly trained personnel as per the statute, who are duly authorized in writing by the manager, are deployed for deep hole drilling, blasting operations, and handling of explosives in the mine.

(iv) Ensure that all persons, including the blaster and their assistants, take shelter at a distance beyond 300 meters from the blasting site prior to blasting. The shelter must be adequately constructed to provide effective protection against flying fragments.

(v) Ensure that drilling, charging, and stemming of blast holes are carried out under the continuous supervision of the Blasting Overman, and that the shots are fired solely by the designated Shot- Firer *Safety Alert, a tool utilized by DGMS, informs the mining industry about potential safety issues and offers recommendations to prevent such incident.

Directorate General of Mines Safety: 123 years in the service of the nation Blasting Location Mobile Blasting Shelter