The dangers of mining

Coal mining has always been dangerous. Mines can collapse, crushing or trapping miners. Water, always present in the earth, can break through the walls of a mine and drown the workers. Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen can suffocate them. Methane and Hydrogen Sulphide gases can explode. In an atmosphere full of combustible coal dust, explosions are catastrophic.

Here is a list of major mining accidents in India since Independence, till 2005.

No	Dates of Accident	Name of Mines	Fatalities	Cause
1	12/07/1952	Dhemomain	12	Roof fall
2	05/08/1953	Majri	11	Inundation
3	14/03/1954	Damra	10	Explosion of fire damp.
4	10/12/1954	Newton Chikli	63	Inundation
5	05/02/1955	Amlabad	52	Explosion of fire damp.
6	26/09/1956	Burra Dhemo	28	Inundation
7	19/02/1958	Chinakuri	175	Explosion of fire damp.
8	20/02/1958	Central Bhowra	23	Inundation
9	05/01/1960	Damua	16	Inundation
10	28/05/1965	Dhori	268	Coal dust explosion
11	11/04/1968	West Chirmiri	14	Premature collapse of workings
12	18/03/1973	Jitpur	48	Explosion of fire damp.
13	08/08/1975	Kessurgarh	11	Roof fall
14	18/11/1975	Silewara	10	Inundation
15	27/12/1975	Chasnala	375	Inundation
16	16/09/1976	Central Saunda	10	Inundation
17	04/10/1976	Sudamdih	43	Explosion of fire damp.
18	22/01/1979	Baragolai	16	Ignition of fire damp
19	24/08/1981	Jagannath	10	Water gas explosion
20	16/07/1982	Topa	16	Roof fall
21	14/09/1983	Hurriladih	19	Inundation
22	13/11/1989	Mahabir	6	Inundation
23	25/01/1994	New Kenda	55	Fire/suffocation by gases
24	26/09/1995	Gaslitand	64	Inundation
25	06/07/1999	Prascole	6	Fall of roof/collapse of workings
26	24/06/2000	Kawadi	10	Failure of OC bench
27	02/02/2001	Bagdigi	29	Inundation
28	05/03/2001	Durgapur Rayatwari	6	Collapse of partings/workings
29	16/06/2003	Godavari Khani-7LEP	17	Inundation
30	16/10/2003	GDK-8A	10	Roof fall
31	15/6/2005	Central Saunda	14	Inundation