• MD. Rustam
• Mr. Dinkar Narayan

Roof fall is one of the most serious and recurring hazards in underground coal mining. It may happen if the roof, coal, sidewalls, or other rock strata become unstable and collapse into an underground working area. Such failures can strike workers and equipment and may result in serious injuries, fatalities, burial, or entrapment. Since underground mining continuously changes the natural condition and stress state of the rock mass, maintaining roof stability is a major challenge for mine management. This paper examines a few underground roof-fall accidents in Indian coal mines between 1952 and 2025, focusing on how the failures occurred, their immediate causes, contributing factors, shortcomings in safety management, and the measures that could have prevented them. It includes West Chirmiri (1968), Kessurgarh (1975), Topa (1982), GDK-8A (2003), VK No. 7 Incline (2006), Prism Coal Mine (2015), and Chhatarpur Mine No. 1 (2025) accidents. The analysis indicates that roof-fall accidents cannot be simply explained by saying that the roof fell. In most cases, the accident is the result of a chain of factors, which includes weak or disturbed geological conditions, changes in ground stress caused by excavation, excessive or newly exposed unsupported roof, inadequate or delayed installation of support, poor workplace examination, unsafe worker exposure, and failure to recognize changing ground conditions. GDK-8A accident exemplifies the need to understand goaf behaviour and stress redistribution during pillar extraction. Similarly, the Prism and Chhatarpur incidents illustrate the serious consequences of allowing workers to remain beneath unsecured or freshly exposed roof areas. Recent DGMS data further show that ground movements continue to be an important safety concern in Indian coal mines. In 2024, ground movement was associated with 6 fatal coal-mine accidents and 8 fatalities, including 2 fatal roof-fall accidents that resulted in 3 deaths. DGMS has also reported that roof and side falls account for approximately 33% of fatal accidents in belowground mining operations. Based on the findings, this paper recommends an integrated approach to roof-fall prevention. It should combine proper geotechnical assessment, controlled excavation, systematic and timely roof support, temporary support where required, continuous monitoring of ground conditions, competent workplace examination, safe operating procedures, effective supervision, and adequate emergency preparedness. Together, they can reduce worker exposure to unstable ground and prevent roof-fall accidents in underground coal mines. [R1]

Roof fall; strata control; underground coal mine; roof support; ground movement; pillar extraction; goaf behaviour; DGMS; mine safety; accident prevention.

"Investigating Roof-Fall Incidents and Safety Methods in Indian Underground Coal Mining", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 9, page no.c245-c255, September-2026, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2609228.pdf

"Investigating Roof-Fall Incidents and Safety Methods in Indian Underground Coal Mining", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 9, page no. ppc245-c255, September-2026, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2609228.pdf