Three mine workers, two of them women, have been injured following an explosion at South Eastern Coalfields Limited’s (SECL) Chirmiri open-cast coal mine in Chhattisgarh. The incident took place on Monday afternoon in the Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district during preparations for a blasting operation. The blast occurred prematurely, causing immediate concern.
Reports suggest that a blasting gang was finalizing the placement of explosives on the coal seam when the explosion happened. The sudden blast resulted in flying rock fragments that struck the workers and impacted nearby vehicles. The injured were promptly taken to the SECL regional hospital in Kurasia for treatment.
SECL confirmed that the three injured workers sustained minor injuries and are currently stable and out of danger. They are receiving care at the hospital and are expected to be released soon. An internal inquiry has been launched to ascertain the exact cause of the blast, with a technical fault being the primary suspected reason. The investigation will also explore other possibilities, including operational errors.
Safety protocols are under review, and operations at the affected mine have been temporarily halted. The company is working with district authorities to ensure all necessary safety measures are in place to prevent similar accidents in the future. The mine is situated about 300 kilometers from Raipur.