1. Introduction
Water hazards are among the most dangerous threats in underground and opencast mines. Sudden inundation can lead to heavy loss of life and property. DGMS treats such accidents with utmost seriousness, and special statutory provisions exist under CMR 2017 (Reg. 172–175) to prevent and investigate these hazards.
2. Causes of Water Inflow and Inundation
A. Natural Causes
- Old waterlogged workings: Undetected adjacent old mines containing accumulated water.
- Surface water entry: Heavy rainfall, river diversion failures, or cracks in strata allowing inflow.
- Groundwater seepage: Through faults, joints, or permeable strata.
- Subsidence or collapse: Opening paths for water to enter from surface or aquifers.
B. Man-made Causes
- Improper exploration: Inadequate borehole drilling before approaching old workings.
- Negligence: Ignoring water warnings or failure to plug boreholes.
- Faulty barrier estimation: Reduced safety thickness due to poor surveying.
- Mechanical failures: Failure of pumps, pipelines, or power supply.
3. DGMS Statutory Provisions – CMR 2017
| Regulation | Provision Summary |
|---|---|
| Reg. 172 | Precautions against danger from surface water. Proper drainage and embankment required. |
| Reg. 173 | Precautions against danger from underground water. Mandatory boreholes and barrier maintenance. |
| Reg. 174 | Precautions during connection with water-logged workings. Only with written permission of manager and plan verification. |
| Reg. 175 | Procedure for investigation of inundation accidents. Reporting to DGMS, inquiry, and preventive review. |
4. Preventive Measures
- Planning Stage: Proper geological survey, boreholes drilled ahead of workings, maintain minimum 15m safety barrier, and prepare water danger plans.
- Operation Stage: Regular monitoring of inflow, high-capacity and standby pumps, inspection of embankments, and use of sand stowing.
- Emergency Stage: Use of high-capacity submersible pumps, clear evacuation routes, refuge chambers, and regular mock drills.
5. DGMS Case Studies (Examples)
Chasnala Disaster (1975, Bihar):
Cause: Breach of barrier between working mine and old waterlogged mine. Casualties: 375. Lesson: Strict compliance with Reg. 173 & 174 mandatory.
Kujama Mine (Jharkhand, 1996):
Cause: Unplugged boreholes led to sudden inflow. Lesson: Boreholes must be properly sealed after use.
Raniganj Coalfield Case:
Cause: Fault zone connection to aquifer. Lesson: Hydrogeological mapping is critical.
6. Investigation Procedure after Inundation (Reg. 175)
Report accident immediately to DGMS, stop operations, conduct a joint inquiry, and prepare a technical report with causes and remedial actions. Lessons learned are circulated for future prevention.
⚡ Quick One-Liners (Revision Points)
- Reg. 172–175 of CMR 2017 deal with water hazards.
- Minimum 15 m barrier must be left between old and new workings.
- Chasnala disaster (1975) was due to water inundation.
- DGMS approval needed before connecting with waterlogged mine.
- Pumps must have standby capacity of 50% or more.
- All boreholes must be properly sealed after use.
- Emergency drills must be held once every 3 months.
🧾 Descriptive Model Answer
Q. Describe the causes and preventive measures of water inundation in mines as per CMR 2017.
Answer: Water inundation in mines occurs when uncontrolled inflow of surface or underground water floods mine workings. The main causes include old waterlogged workings, inadequate borehole drilling, poor barrier estimation, heavy rainfall, and mechanical pump failure. As per CMR 2017 Regulations 172–175, the Manager must take adequate precautions against surface and underground water, including: drilling exploratory boreholes, maintaining a safety barrier (min 15m), ensuring effective drainage, preparing a water danger plan, and conducting regular inspections and mock drills. In case of an inundation accident, it must be reported immediately to the DGMS and investigated as per Reg. 175.
🎯 Test Your Knowledge: 25 MCQs
Q1. Which CMR 2017 regulation deals with precautions against surface water?
Q2. The minimum safety barrier between two waterlogged workings is:
Q3. Which disaster led to major reforms in water hazard prevention in India?
Q4. Inundation from old workings is mainly due to:
Q5. DGMS requires boreholes to be drilled ahead of the face when approaching suspected water within:
Q6. Regulation 173 deals with:
Q7. Which of the following is a preventive measure?
Q8. Which equipment is most essential during inundation?
Q9. Reporting of inundation accident is required under which regulation?
Q10. The water danger plan is prepared by:
Q11. Water hazard is classified as:
Q12. The purpose of boreholes in water-prone areas is to:
Q13. Which of the following is not a cause of inundation?
Q14. Minimum frequency for mock drills against inundation is:
Q15. The first step during water inflow is:
Q16. Which of the following is a DGMS-approved barrier reduction method?
Q17. The Chasnala disaster was due to:
Q18. Regulation 175 relates to:
Q19. Inundation due to heavy rain is linked to:
Q20. Boreholes should be:
Q21. Main statutory responsibility for water hazard prevention lies with:
Q22. Pumping capacity should be sufficient to:
Q23. Investigation of inundation includes:
Q24. Who must approve barrier reduction below 15 m?
Q25. The purpose of stowing in old galleries is:
Q1. Which CMR 2017 regulation deals with precautions against surface water?
Q2. The minimum safety barrier between two waterlogged workings is:
Q3. Which disaster led to major reforms in water hazard prevention in India?
Q4. Inundation from old workings is mainly due to:
Q5. DGMS requires boreholes to be drilled ahead of the face when approaching suspected water within:
Q6. Regulation 173 deals with:
Q7. Which of the following is a preventive measure?
Q8. Which equipment is most essential during inundation?
Q9. Reporting of inundation accident is required under which regulation?
Q10. The water danger plan is prepared by:
Q11. Water hazard is classified as:
Q12. The purpose of boreholes in water-prone areas is to:
Q13. Which of the following is not a cause of inundation?
Q14. Minimum frequency for mock drills against inundation is:
Q15. The first step during water inflow is:
Q16. Which of the following is a DGMS-approved barrier reduction method?
Q17. The Chasnala disaster was due to:
Q18. Regulation 175 relates to:
Q19. Inundation due to heavy rain is linked to:
Q20. Boreholes should be:
Q21. Main statutory responsibility for water hazard prevention lies with:
Q22. Pumping capacity should be sufficient to:
Q23. Investigation of inundation includes:
Q24. Who must approve barrier reduction below 15 m?
Q25. The purpose of stowing in old galleries is:
Q1. Which CMR 2017 regulation deals with precautions against surface water?
Q2. The minimum safety barrier between two waterlogged workings is:
Q3. Which disaster led to major reforms in water hazard prevention in India?
Q4. Inundation from old workings is mainly due to:
Q5. DGMS requires boreholes to be drilled ahead of the face when approaching suspected water within:
Q6. Regulation 173 deals with:
Q7. Which of the following is a preventive measure?
Q8. Which equipment is most essential during inundation?
Q9. Reporting of inundation accident is required under which regulation?
Q10. The water danger plan is prepared by:
Q11. Water hazard is classified as:
Q12. The purpose of boreholes in water-prone areas is to:
Q13. Which of the following is not a cause of inundation?
Q14. Minimum frequency for mock drills against inundation is:
Q15. The first step during water inflow is:
Q16. Which of the following is a DGMS-approved barrier reduction method?
Q17. The Chasnala disaster was due to:
Q18. Regulation 175 relates to:
Q19. Inundation due to heavy rain is linked to:
Q20. Boreholes should be:
Q21. Main statutory responsibility for water hazard prevention lies with:
Q22. Pumping capacity should be sufficient to:
Q23. Investigation of inundation includes:
Q24. Who must approve barrier reduction below 15 m?
Q25. The purpose of stowing in old galleries is:
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DGMS Circular 2025: Assistant Managers Notes
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DGMS Circular 2025: Assistant Managers Notes
Production Planning, BEP & Accident Reporting
HR Management & Electrical Safety in Mining
DGMS Exam 2025 Schedule Released
DGMS Metal Restricted June 2025 Exam PYQ
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