Manendragarh Mine Explosion: Three Hurt, Safety Under Review

A forceful explosion at the Chirmiri open cast coal mine in Chhattisgarh’s Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district has left three workers injured, including two women. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon while miners were preparing for a planned blasting operation on the coal bed. The blast reportedly happened unexpectedly, sending rock fragments flying and striking workers and vehicles within the mine. Promptly, the injured were transported to the SECL regional hospital in Kurasia, Chirmiri, where their conditions are reported as stable. The preliminary suspicion leans towards a technical fault as the cause of the premature explosion, though a thorough investigation is in progress. Authorities have launched an internal probe to meticulously examine all potential factors, from faulty equipment and procedural shortcomings to human error. Operations at the mine have been temporarily suspended to allow for safety assessments and the implementation of enhanced precautionary measures to prevent future mishaps.