A concerning incident occurred at the Chirmiri open cast coal mine in Chhattisgarh’s Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district on Monday, when an explosion injured three workers, including two women. The blast happened while a team was executing preparatory work for a scheduled detonation. Reports suggest the explosion was premature, occurring as workers were positioning explosives. The sudden detonation scattered debris, causing injuries to the personnel and some vehicles in the vicinity. The injured were swiftly taken to the SECL regional hospital at Kurasia for immediate medical care. Their conditions are stable, and they are expected to make a full recovery. Investigations are underway to pinpoint the cause of the explosion, with initial suspicions pointing to a technical error. The probe will meticulously review all potential factors, from equipment integrity to procedural adherence, to prevent recurrence. The mine’s operations have been paused for safety checks and a thorough review of safety protocols.
