An explosion at the Chirmiri open cast coal mine in Chhattisgarh’s Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district has left three workers injured. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon as a team of seven to eight workers was preparing for a routine blasting operation on the coal bed. Two of the injured are women. According to officials, the blast happened suddenly while the team was returning to a safe distance after laying explosives, causing rock fragments to fly and strike workers and vehicles in the vicinity. The injured were promptly transported to the SECL regional hospital at Kurasia, where they are reported to be in stable condition and are expected to be discharged soon. Authorities suspect a technical fault may have caused the premature detonation. An internal investigation is underway to pinpoint the exact cause, examining potential factors like equipment malfunction, procedural errors, or human error. The mine has been secured, and operations are temporarily suspended for safety assessments. This incident highlights the inherent risks in mining operations and the importance of stringent safety protocols.
