Safety concerns were heightened in Chhattisgarh following an explosion at SECL’s Chirmiri open cast coal mine in Manendragarh on Monday. The blast, which occurred during a blasting operation preparation, injured three mine workers, two of whom are women. The incident took place around mid-afternoon.
Sources within SECL explained that a team of workers was engaged in placing explosives when an unforeseen detonation occurred. The premature blast led to the scattering of rock fragments, which struck the workers and equipment. The injured were swiftly transferred to the SECL hospital in Kurasia, where they are being treated for minor injuries and are reported to be in a stable condition. Their discharge is expected shortly.
Authorities are conducting an in-depth investigation to determine the root cause of this accidental detonation. A technical fault is currently suspected, but the investigation will not rule out other possibilities such as procedural errors or equipment malfunction. Operations at the Chirmiri mine have been temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure and to facilitate the ongoing safety assessment and investigation. The company and local administration are committed to implementing necessary improvements to prevent recurrence.