Tragedy struck Chhattisgarh’s Manendragarh region on Monday when an explosion occurred at the Chirmiri open cast coal mine, operated by South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL). The blast injured three workers, two of whom are women. The incident took place during preparations for a scheduled blasting operation.
Reports indicate that a group of workers was in the process of placing explosives on the coal seam. While the team was retreating to a secure location for the detonation, an unexpected explosion erupted. The force of the blast sent rock fragments flying, impacting workers and vehicles present in the vicinity. The injured were quickly taken to the SECL regional hospital in Kurasia, where they are receiving medical attention. Fortunately, their injuries are minor, and they are reported to be out of danger.
SECL has launched a thorough investigation into the incident. The primary suspicion points towards a technical malfunction as the likely trigger for the accidental detonation. However, the probe will also examine the possibility of errors in procedure or human oversight. Safety measures are under review at the Manendragarh mine, with operations paused while the site is assessed. Authorities are committed to preventing similar accidents in the future through rigorous safety protocol reviews.