Three workers, two of whom are women, sustained injuries following an explosion at the Chirmiri open cast coal mine in Chhattisgarh’s Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district on Monday. The incident occurred while a crew of seven to eight workers was undertaking preparatory work for a blasting operation at the South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) facility. Reports indicate that the explosion happened unexpectedly as the blasting gang was returning to a safe distance after positioning the explosives. The blast generated airborne debris that impacted the workers and equipment in the vicinity. The injured were swiftly transported to the SECL regional hospital in Kurasia, where their conditions are stable. A comprehensive investigation has been initiated to pinpoint the cause, with preliminary assessments suggesting a possible technical malfunction. The mine’s operations are on hold as safety evaluations are conducted, and measures to prevent future accidents are being scrutinized by both company officials and the district administration.
