A sudden explosion rocked South Eastern Coalfields Limited’s (SECL) Chirmiri open cast coal mine in Chhattisgarh’s Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur (MCB) district on Monday. The incident, which occurred between 2 pm and 3 pm, left three workers, including two women, with minor injuries. The workers were reportedly preparing for a routine blasting operation at the time of the blast.
A team of seven to eight workers was laying explosives on the coal bed. As they were moving to a safe distance for detonation, the explosion occurred prematurely. Flying rock fragments from the blast struck the workers and nearby vehicles. All injured individuals were promptly transported to SECL’s regional hospital in Kurasia for treatment. Officials confirmed that the injured are in stable condition and are expected to be discharged soon.
An internal investigation has been initiated to pinpoint the exact cause of the premature blast. Initial assessments suggest a potential technical fault may be responsible, though procedural lapses or human error are also being considered. The mining site has been secured, and operations have been temporarily suspended pending safety evaluations. The company’s safety department and the district administration are working to review and enhance safety protocols to avert future incidents.
