An explosion rocked South Eastern Coalfields Limited’s (SECL) Chirmiri open cast coal mine in Chhattisgarh’s Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district on Monday, injuring three workers, including two women. The incident occurred around 2:30 PM while a team of seven to eight workers was preparing for a routine blasting operation by laying explosives on the coal bed. According to an SECL spokesperson, the blast happened unexpectedly as the team was moving to a safe distance for detonation. Flying rock fragments from the premature explosion struck the workers and nearby vehicles. All three injured individuals sustained minor wounds and were promptly transported to SECL’s regional hospital in Kurasia, Chirmiri. They are reported to be in stable condition and are expected to be discharged shortly. An internal investigation is underway to pinpoint the exact cause, with initial assessments suggesting a possible technical fault. The mine site has been secured, and operations are temporarily suspended pending safety evaluations. Authorities are reviewing all safety protocols to prevent future incidents.
