##### Hindustan Zinc Sets New Benchmark in Mine Safety Excellence at Intra-Zonal Rescue Competition 2025

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 (World’s largest underground zinc mining operations) in Rajasthan from October 11–13, 2025. The event was organized under the aegis of the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), Northwestern Zone, bringing together India’s best mine rescue teams to test their skills, teamwork, and emergency response capabilities.

The three-day competition featured ten teams, including two all-women rescue teams from the company’s Rampura Agucha Mine and Zawar Group of Mines, along with men’s teams from Kayad Mine, Hindustan Copper Mines, Rajpura Dariba Mine, Sindesar Khurd Mine, Rampura Agucha, and Zawar Group of Mines — with two teams each representing Zawar Group of mines and Hindustan Copper Mines. The event highlighted the importance of technical precision, physical endurance, and collaboration during working hours, which is a key pillar of HZL’s world-class safety culture.

The opening ceremony, held on October 12 at the Rampura Agucha Rescue Room Training (RRRT) Centre, was graced by Shri Vinod Rajak, Director of Mines Safety, Northwestern Zone, DGMS Udaipur, as Chief Guest, along with other and senior DGMS officials including Shri K. Ravinder, Dr. I. Satyanarayan, and Shri Tom Mathews as Guests of Honour.

Speaking about the event, Mr. Arun Misra, CEO & Whole time Director, Hindustan Zinc, said “At Hindustan Zinc, safety is deeply rooted in our culture and it drives everything we do. The Intra Zonal Mine Rescue Competition is a testament to our commitment to preparedness, teamwork, and operational excellence in mining. It is inspiring to witness the courage, discipline, and technical precision demonstrated by every participant, especially the remarkable performance of our all-women rescue teams who 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 and purpose across our workforce. We remain dedicated to advancing the highest standards of safety, inclusion, and innovation across all our operations.”

Throughout the event, teams participated in live rescue relay competitions, statutory tests, and emergency simulations designed to evaluate their skill, decision-making, and readiness in real-life scenarios. The closing ceremony, held on October 13 at the Executive Club, Zinc Colony, Rampura Agucha, was graced by Shri R.T. Mandekar, Deputy Director General of Mines Safety, North Western Zone DGMS, Udaipur, as Chief Guest, DGMS Udaipur, as Chief Guest, followed by Shri Kishore Kumar S., Chief Operating Officer, Hindustan Zinc, Shri Ram Murari, IBU CEO Rampura Agucha Mine and senior DGMS officials including Shri K. Ravinder, Dr. I. Satyanarayan, and other dignitaries from the mining fraternity.

A total of 8 categories were awarded in the closing ceremony, with the men’s team of Rampura Agucha Mine taking home the overall winners title, followed by Rajpura Dariba Mine as the runner’s up and a stellar tie for second runner’s up between Hindustan Copper Limited and all-women’s team of Rampura Agucha Mine.

The successful conclusion of the Intra Zonal Mine Rescue Competition 2025 underscores Hindustan Zinc’s unwavering focus on safety excellence, skill development, and gender inclusion in mining. As a company that places the highest priority on safeguarding its workforce, Hindustan Zinc strengthens its safety culture through rigorous training, advanced technology adoption, and proactive risk management. By hosting platforms that encourage hands-on learning, technical innovation, and cross-team collaboration, the company continues to set global benchmarks for responsible mining practices. Being the only Indian member of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) and one of the world’s most sustainable metals and mining companies, it remains committed to empowering people, protecting the planet, and creating a safer, more resilient future for the mining industry and the communities it serves.