An explosion at the Chirmiri open cast coal mine in Chhattisgarh’s Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur (MCB) district has left three workers, including two women, with injuries. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon while a team was preparing for a routine blasting operation. According to officials, the blast took place as the workers were moving away from the coal bed after laying explosives. Flying rock fragments struck the injured individuals and nearby vehicles. All three sustained minor injuries and were promptly transported to the SECL regional hospital at Kurasia. They are reported to be in stable condition and are expected to be discharged soon. An internal investigation has been initiated to ascertain the precise cause of the premature detonation, with initial suspicions pointing towards a potential technical fault. Operations at the mine have been temporarily suspended pending safety assessments. The company’s safety department and district administration are reviewing all safety protocols to prevent future incidents.
