An explosion has caused injuries to three workers, including two females, at an open cast coal mine in Manendragarh, Chhattisgarh. The incident took place at the Chirmiri mine, managed by South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL). The blast occurred around mid-afternoon on Monday while a crew of seven to eight workers was engaged in setting up explosives for a planned detonation. Reports suggest the explosion happened unexpectedly before the team could reach a secure zone. The resultant debris injured the workers and caused damage to vehicles present at the site. The injured have been admitted to a local SECL hospital and are reportedly stable, with no serious harm sustained. They are expected to recover fully and be discharged soon. Investigations are underway to determine the root cause of the blast, with speculation of a technical fault. SECL has launched a formal inquiry to examine all potential factors, including equipment failure and operational errors. The mine has been temporarily closed to allow for safety inspections and procedural reviews. Safety protocols are being reinforced across operations to mitigate risks.
