A significant incident occurred at the Chirmiri open cast coal mine in Chhattisgarh’s Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district on Monday, resulting in injuries to three mine workers, two of them women. The explosion took place during preparations for a standard blasting operation. Around two to three in the afternoon, a team of workers was laying explosives on the coal face. Suddenly, an unforeseen explosion occurred, sending fragments and debris outwards. The flying debris struck several workers and also affected vehicles in the mine area. The injured were immediately transported to the SECL regional hospital located in Kurasia, Chirmiri. All three are said to have suffered minor injuries and are reported to be in a stable condition. The primary suspicion for the cause of the blast is a technical issue that led to a premature detonation. Investigations are actively ongoing to determine the exact reason behind the explosion, scrutinizing all aspects of the operation and equipment. The area has been secured, and mining activities are temporarily suspended to allow for thorough safety reviews and to reinforce preventative measures.
