Hindustan Zinc Sets New Benchmark in Mine Safety and Employee Empowerment at Intra-Zonal Rescue Competition 2025

 

Udaipur/Bhilwara.

Under the aegis of the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), Northwestern Zone, Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL), a Vedanta Group company and the world’s largest integrated producer of zinc, successfully hosted the Intra-Zonal Mine Rescue Competition (IZMRC) 2025 at its Rampura Agucha Mine, Rajasthan, from October 11–13, 2025. The three-day event brought together India’s finest mine rescue teams to test their skills, teamwork, and emergency response capabilities in highly realistic underground rescue scenarios.

Ten teams participated in the competition, including two all-women rescue teams from Rampura Agucha and Zawar Mines, alongside men’s teams from Kayad Mine, Hindustan Copper Mines, Rajpura Dariba Mine, Sindesar Khurd Mine, Rampura Agucha, and Zawar Mines. With two teams each representing Hindustan Copper and Zawar Mines, the competition emphasized technical precision, physical endurance, quick decision-making, and seamless collaboration — the pillars of HZL’s world-class safety culture.

The opening ceremony, held at the Rampura Agucha Rescue Room Training Centre (RRRT), was graced by Shri Vinod Rajak, Director of Mines Safety, Northwestern Zone, DGMS Udaipur, as Chief Guest, along with senior DGMS officials Shri K. Ravinder, Dr. I. Satyanarayan, and Shri Tom Mathews.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Arun Misra, CEO & Whole-time Director, Hindustan Zinc, remarked, “At Hindustan Zinc, safety is more than a compliance requirement — it is a deeply rooted culture that guides everything we do. The Intra-Zonal Mine Rescue Competition reflects our unwavering commitment to preparedness, teamwork, and operational excellence. Witnessing the courage, discipline, and technical precision of every participant, particularly our all-women rescue teams, is truly inspiring. They continue to redefine possibilities in an industry that has traditionally been male-dominated. Such initiatives not only strengthen our safety systems but also instill a sense of pride, purpose, and belonging among our workforce. We remain committed to advancing the highest standards of safety, inclusion, and innovation across all our operations.”

During the event, teams competed in live rescue relay drills, statutory tests, first aid exercises, and underground rescue simulations designed to assess skill, readiness, and rapid decision-making under pressure. The closing ceremony, held at the Executive Club, Zinc Colony, Rampura Agucha, was graced by Shri R.T. Mandekar, Deputy Director General of Mines Safety, North Western Zone, along with HZL COO Shri Kishore Kumar S., IBU CEO Rampura Agucha Shri Ram Murari, and senior DGMS officials.

Awards were presented across eight key categories, with Rampura Agucha Mine’s men’s team securing the overall winner title, Rajpura Dariba Mine as the runner-up, and a remarkable tie for second runner-up between Hindustan Copper Limited and the all-women team of Rampura Agucha Mine — highlighting exceptional talent, dedication, and gender inclusion.

The successful completion of IZMRC 2025 underscores Hindustan Zinc’s unwavering focus on safety excellence, skill development, and workforce empowerment. By hosting platforms that encourage hands-on learning, technical innovation, and cross-team collaboration, HZL continues to set global benchmarks for responsible mining practices. As India’s only member of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) and one of the world’s most sustainable metals and mining companies, Hindustan Zinc is committed to empowering people, protecting the planet, and creating a safer, more resilient future for both the mining industry and the communities it serves.

About Author