An extraction method for deep-seated thick seam deposits by underground mining with high resource recovery has remained a great challenge for Indian mining engineers, whereas the longwall top coal caving (LTCC) method has evolved as an effective method for various geo mining conditions in China and other counties. The percentage of top coal recovery (TCR) plays a predominant role in determining the feasibility of LTCC, which relies on the First Top Coal Caving Distance (FTCD). In this paper, the critical geotechnical parameters are identified, numerically simulated, and statistically analyzed, and the FTCD for Indian geo-mining conditions is developed and validated. A financial assessment is conducted, considering 70% top coal recovery at 85% performance level, cost of production escalated by 20% and fall in coal grade by two grades. The internal rate of return (IRR) for LTCC is 30.24% as per the sensitivity analysis where it is only 18% in single pass longwall method. This study contributes to evaluating both the technical and economic feasibility of introducing LTCC in Indian geo-mining conditions.

Longwall top-coal caving (LTCC) can increase recovery from thick seams; however, its performance in overseas mines does not establish transferability to Indian coal measures. This critical integrative review combines peer-reviewed LTCC research, published and technical evidence from the Godavari Valley Coalfield (GVCF), and the statutory and safety evidence needed for controlled implementation in India. The synthesis evaluates top-coal failure and draw, first top-coal caving distance (FTCD), seam and stone-band variability, roof behaviour, in-situ stress, roadway orientation, support response, gas, spontaneous heating, and commissioning controls. Available measurements indicate a broadly north-east–south-west maximum horizontal stress direction in parts of the GVCF, with material local variation; Adriyala experience further indicates that roadway orientation can alter guttering, convergence, and reinforcement demand. Earlier GVCF screening produced divergent cavability and recovery estimates under Chinese and CSIRO-derived approaches, demonstrating model-form uncertainty rather than proving feasibility. The paper therefore proposes a staged evidence-to-decision framework linking regional screening, block qualification, three-dimensional characterisation, calibrated continuum–discontinuum modelling, multi-hazard assessment, an instrumented pilot, and independent review before expansion. LTCC is assessed as conditionally promising for selected GVCF blocks, but not demonstrated at coalfield scale. The principal limitation is the absence of an Indian LTCC production panel for calibration and the heterogeneous accessibility and quality of regional data.

Underground mine rescue is a high consequence intervention conducted after ordinary risk controls have failed. Its effectiveness depends on more than the courage and technical skill of a rescue brigade. This critical integrative review examines rescue evolution, major cases, international institutional models, responder hazards, competence, breathing apparatus, communications, robotics, simulation and the changing Indian regulatory context. Evidence from 24 historical cases shows a persistent dual problem. Delay, incomplete mine intelligence and weak coordination can reduce trapped miners' chance of survival, while premature entry can expose rescuers to secondary explosions, ground failure, heat and apparatus related stress. The 2019 Adriyala Longwall Project fatality, in which rescue trained personnel entered a hot and humid disused roadway and one member later died, shows that statutory training does not assure safe deployment. A Mine Rescue Assurance Model is proposed with eight functions: prevention and self escape; detection and notification; command and intelligence; rescueability assessment; controlled entry; continuous team protection; casualty transfer; and learning with change control. For India, the priority is to move from compliance based availability toward risk based coverage and demonstrated readiness under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions framework. Recommended measures include national doctrine, regional mutual aid, competency based assessment, physiological monitoring, digital mine information, instrumented exercises, independent audits and a protected incident learning database. Competition success demonstrates discipline and technical proficiency, but real incident readiness must be verified under uncertain, degraded and prolonged conditions.

Background Haul roads in opencast mines are civil structures, operating workplaces, and critical controls for powered-haulage risks. Statutory dimensions for width, gradient, visibility, and edge protection are necessary; however, they do not show whether a road remains safe as fleets, traffic, drainage, and ground conditions change. Methods This qualitative documentary study integrated 32 statutory, regulatory, technical, and critical control sources identified through targeted searches and citation tracking until August 28, 2026. The corpus was coded against six coupled subsystems: geometry, pavement and surface, water and drainage, edge protection, traffic, vehicles and people, and digital assurance and governance. Fourteen fatal haul-road cases were purposively selected from two Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) SANKET compendia covering coal and non-coal mines from 2016 to 2022. Cases were conservatively coded for mechanisms and mapped to assurance failures; no rates or causal-prevalence estimates were calculated. Results The cases showed recurrent combinations of steep gradient or rollback, inadequate containment, restricted width or visibility, water-affected surfaces, mechanical failure, and mixed heavy-equipment–light motor vehicle–pedestrian interactions. Triangulation with engineering, regulatory, and critical-control literature identified five failure locations: design basis, containment, condition, technology, and interface gaps. The resulting five-stage Haul-Road Critical-Control Assurance Chain (HRCAC) defines the basis of design, controls, measurable standards, verification and accountable response/change control. A worked route example demonstrates how the HRCAC converts a nominal road specification into auditable evidence and triggers. Conclusions This study does not contribute a new geometric standard or a new form of generic critical control management. It is an Indian statutory-anchored, accident-informed, route-level assurance architecture. HRCAC is proposed as a hypothesis-generating candidate for pilot audit and prospective validation (Section 6); its illustrative thresholds must not be treated as universal-design values.

Dumper, tipper and haul-truck operations in opencast mines expose workers to high-consequence hazards arising from vehicle mass, restricted visibility, mixed traffic, changing haul roads, dumping edges and human performance. This study develops an implementable risk-assessment framework that translates Indian mine-safety requirements and international evidence into operational controls and verification routines. A purposive integrative review of official DGMS, MSHA and NIOSH material and peer-reviewed research was combined with examination of the supplied risk-assessment-based safe operating procedure. The search was not systematic, and no incident-level dataset or formal quality appraisal was available. Sources were mapped to operating phase, hazard, control, verification, accountable role and learning indicator. The proposed framework covers six operating phases and six control domains. It assigns task HIRA to baseline screening, JSA/JHA to detailed high-risk steps, Bowtie to fatal-event pathways and critical controls, and FMEA/FMECA to equipment failure modes. It also specifies five verification modes and links critical controls to failure responses, owners and prospective indicators. The framework is sufficiently specified for site adaptation and prospective pilot evaluation; it has not been tested as an intervention or empirically validated.